Methods of treating allergic inflammatory conditions by administering an anti-cadherin-like 26-based therapeutic

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of diagnosing eosinophilic gastritis (EG), or remission therefrom in a subject, wherein the methods include applying a sample from the subject to a diagnostic panel that contains selected markers for EG, analyzing the results thereof, and making a determination as to the EG status of the subject. Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods of monitoring the pathological development or medical prognosis of EG in a subject. Embodiments of the invention are also directed to use of CDH26 as a marker for EG, eosinophilic esophagitis, or allergic inflammatory conditions. Embodiments of the invention also relate to the use of anti-CDH26-based therapeutics to treat allergic inflammatory conditions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a U.S. National Stage entry under 35 U.S.C.§371 of International Application No. PCT/US2012/044061 (now expired),filed on Jun. 25, 2012, designating the United States of America andpublished in English on Dec. 27, 2012, which in turn claims the benefitof priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/500,508, MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC PANEL OF EOSINOPHILIC GASTROINTESTINALDISORDERS, filed on Jun. 23, 2011, which is currently herewith and eachof which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with government support under DK076893 andAI070235 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The governmenthas certain rights in the invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The instant application contains a Sequence Listing which has beensubmitted in ASCII format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety. Said ASCII copy, created on Sep. 28, 2015, isnamed 47108-513N01US.txt and is 80.5 kilobytes in size.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods andcompositions for diagnosis and treatment of an eosinophilic gastritis(EG) disease state in a subject.

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) constitute a diversespectrum of disorders that affect one or more parts of thegastrointestinal (GI) tract and are characterized by increased numbersof eosinophils in one or more parts of the wall of the affected GIsegment(s) (Rothenberg, M. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 113:11-28 (2004);Talley, N. et al. Gut 31:54-8 (1990)). EGIDs include eosinophilicesophagitis (EoE, also referred to as EE in some publications),eosinophilic gastritis (EG), eosinophilic duodenitis (ED), eosinophilicjejunitis (EJ), eosinophilic ileitis (EI), and eosinophilic colitis(EC).

The EGID that has been studied the most is EoE, partly because thediagnosis is made with increasing frequency (Furuta, G. et al.Gastroenterology 133:1342-63 (2007)). Other EGIDs, such as EG, have beenless well-studied than EoE, and diagnostic criteria are lesswell-established than for EoE. EG and EoE represent diseasescharacterized by accumulation of eosinophils in the stomach oresophagus, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods and compositions described herein are provided by way of exampleand should not in any way limit the scope of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention encompass methods of determining aneosinophilic gastritis (EG) status in a subject, including: applying asample from the subject to a diagnostic panel that includes at least onemarker or gene selected from Table 9 and/or Table 10, to obtain aresult; analyzing the result to determine a level of expression of theat least one marker or gene; and determining the EG status of thesubject based upon the level of expression. In some embodiments of themethods, the status includes a diagnosis of EG.

In some embodiments of the methods, the at least one marker or gene canbe mRNA. In some embodiments, the at least one marker or gene can beprotein. In some embodiments, the subject can be a human patient.

In some embodiments, the sample can be a tissue, an exudate, saliva,serum, plasma, blood, oral, urine, stool, or a buccal sample. In someembodiments, the sample can be a tissue sample. In some embodiments, thetissue sample can be a gastric tissue sample.

In some embodiments of the methods, the determining step includesanalyzing a subset of the markers or genes in Table 9 and/or Table 10using at least one algorithm. In some embodiments, a subset of 76markers or genes from Table 10, or from Tables 9 and 10, can beanalyzed. In some embodiments, a subset of 28 markers or genes fromTable 9 and/or Table 10 can be analyzed. In some embodiments, the panelincludes at least two markers or genes selected from Table 9 and/orTable 10. In some embodiments, the at least one marker or gene includesCDH26.

In some embodiments, the panel includes at least 10 markers or genesfrom Table 9 and/or Table 10. In some embodiments, the panel includes atleast 20 markers or genes from Table 9 and/or Table 10. In someembodiments, the panel includes at least 30 markers or genes selectedfrom Table 10, or from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the panelincludes at least 60 markers or genes selected from Table 10, or fromTables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the panel includes at least 90markers or genes selected from Table 10, or from Tables 9 and 10. Insome embodiments, the panel includes at least 100 markers or genesselected from Table 10, or from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments,the panel includes all of the markers or genes listed in Tables 9 and10.

In some embodiments, the methods further include detecting, from thepatient sample, a level of eotaxin-3 mRNA expression or eotaxin-3protein.

In some embodiments, the status includes distinguishing EG from a normalcondition in the subject.

In some embodiments, the status includes distinguishing EG from at leastone other eosinophilic disorder in the subject. In some embodiments, theat least one other eosinophilic disorder can be eosinophilicesophagitis.

In some embodiments, the status includes distinguishing eosinophilicgastritis from at least one other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorderin the subject. In some embodiments, the at least one other inflammatorygastrointestinal disorder can be inflammatory bowel disease, H. pylorigastritis, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastritis.

Some embodiments of the methods further include developing or modifyinga therapy for the subject based upon the results of the diagnostic panelanalysis. Some embodiments further include exposure of the subject to aspecific therapy. In some embodiments, the specific therapy includestargeting at least one molecule involved in EG disease pathogenesis,and/or at least one downstream gene affected by the same. In someembodiments, the at least one molecule involved in EG diseasepathogenesis, and/or at least one downstream gene affected by the same,can be CDH26.

In some embodiments, the specific therapy includes an anti-CDH26-basedtherapeutic. In some embodiments, the anti-CDH26-based therapeuticincludes at least one of a compound or composition that suppresses CDH26activity. In some embodiments, the compound or composition thatsuppresses CDH26 activity includes a CDH26-Fc fusion protein, a CDH26anti-sense polynucleotide, a CDH26-directed miRNA, a CDH26-directedshRNA, or a CDH26-directed humanized antibody. In some embodiments, thecompound or composition that suppresses CDH26 activity can be one thattargets a binding site and/or protein of at least onegamma-interferon-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) consensussequence within a CDH26 3′ untranslated region (UTR).

In some embodiments, the sample can be an archival sample. In someembodiments, the archival sample can be a formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample.

Some embodiments of the invention further include characterizing amolecular EG profile of the subject based upon expression of the atleast one marker and determining compliance with medical managementbased upon the profile.

Some embodiments of the invention further include determining and/ormonitoring exposure to one or more therapeutic compounds in the subjectbased upon the level of expression.

Some embodiments of the invention further include making a determinationas to the pathological development of EG in the subject based upon theexpression levels of the markers.

Some embodiments of the invention further include providing personalprognostic medicine guidance to the subject based upon a determinationas to the pathological development of EG in the subject, based upon theexpression levels of the markers.

Some embodiments of the invention further include determining thespecific genes engaged by a therapeutic, wherein the therapeutic can beadministered to the subject, and a sample from the subject followingtherapeutic administration can be subjected to the same diagnostic panelin order to obtain a result, wherein differences between the two resultsdetermine the specific genes engaged by the administered therapeutic. Insome embodiments, the results can be analyzed by comparison with normaland EG cohorts to identify genes that can be up- or down-regulated inresponse to environmental factors.

Embodiments of the invention also encompass EG molecular diagnosticpanels including at least two genes or markers selected from Table 9and/or Table 10. Some embodiments relate to an EG molecular diagnosticpanel includes at least two genes or markers selected from Table 9. Someembodiments relate to an EG molecular diagnostic panel including atleast two genes or markers selected from Table 10. Some embodimentsrelate to an EG molecular diagnostic panel including CDH26. Someembodiments relate to an EG molecular diagnostic panel including all ofthe genes or markers in Table 9 and Table 10. In some embodiments, theinvention encompasses an EoE molecular diagnostic panel includingeotaxin-3 mRNA and at least one marker or gene selected from Table 9and/or Table 10.

Embodiments of the invention also encompass kits for the detection of alevel of one or more genes associated with EG, including: one or moreoligonucleotide probes complementary to subsequences of said one or moremarkers or genes, wherein the one or more markers or genes can beselected from Table 9 and/or Table 10. In some embodiments, the one ormore probes can be used in at least one of a gene chip, an expressionarray-based protocol, a PCR protocol, or an RNA level-based protocol.

Embodiments of the invention also encompass methods of determining anallergic inflammation status in a subject, including: applying a samplefrom the subject to a diagnostic panel including the CDH26 marker orgene, to obtain a result; analyzing the result to determine a level ofexpression of CDH26; and determining the allergic inflammation status ofthe subject based upon the level of expression. In some embodiments, thediagnostic panel further includes at least one marker or gene selectedfrom Table 9 and/or Table 10.

Embodiments of the invention also encompass methods of treating anallergic inflammatory condition in a subject in need thereof, including:identifying a subject with an allergic inflammatory condition; andadministering to the subject an anti-CDH26-based therapeutic, whereinadministration of the anti-CDH26-based therapeutic results in treatmentof the allergic inflammatory condition.

In some embodiments, the anti-CDH26-based therapeutic includes at leastone compound or composition that suppresses CDH26 activity. In someembodiments, the compound or composition that suppresses CDH26 activityincludes at least one of a CDH26-Fc fusion protein, a CDH26 anti-sensepolynucleotide, a CDH26-directed miRNA, a CDH26-directed shRNA, or aCDH26-directed humanized antibody. In some embodiments, the compound orcomposition that suppresses CDH26 activity can be one that targets abinding site and/or protein of at least one gamma-interferon-activatedinhibitor of translation (GAIT) consensus sequence within a CDH26 3′untranslated region (UTR).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Those of skill in the art will understand that the drawings, describedbelow, are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings are not intendedto limit the scope of the present teachings in any way.

FIGS. 1A-C depict results demonstrating that the gastric tissue ofpatients with eosinophilic gastritis (EG) displays marked eosinophilicinflammation that correlates with peripheral blood eosinophil counts.FIG. 1A depicts hematoxylin and eosin-stained gastric antrum biopsyspecimens. FIG. 1B depicts the peak eosinophil count for the gastrictissue obtained at the index endoscopy for all patients. FIG. 1C depictsthe peak eosinophil count for the gastric tissue obtained at the indexendoscopy for patients with active EG.

FIG. 2 depicts the quantification and correlation of tryptase- andIL-13-expressing cells in inflamed gastric tissue.

FIGS. 3A-B depict identification of transcripts differentially regulatedin the gastric tissue of patients with EG. FIG. 3A depicts the relativegene expression microarray analysis of RNA isolated from the gastricantrum tissue of control patients or patients with active EG. FIG. 3Bdepicts eotaxin-3 gene expression in gastric tissue.

FIGS. 4A-E depict identification of transcripts differentially regulatedin the gastric tissue of patients with EG. FIG. 4A depicts cadherinfamily member expression levels in inflamed gastric tissue. FIG. 4Bdepicts cadherin family member expression levels in inflamed esophagealtissue. FIG. 4C depicts CDH26 transcript levels in gastric antrum tissueas determined by microarray analysis. FIG. 4D depicts CDH26 and GAPDHtranscript levels using cDNA derived from the gastric antrum tissue ofthe same population of patients used in the microarray study. FIG. 4Edepicts relative CDH26 levels from a replication cohort of patients.

FIGS. 5A-D depict CDH26 localization in inflamed gastric tissue ofpatients with EG. Gastric antrum biopsy specimens obtained at the indexendoscopy each of the original patient cohort were subjected toimmunohistochemical staining for CDH26. FIG. 5A depicts representativenormal and EG biopsy specimens. FIG. 5B depicts high magnification ofgastric antrum tissue derived from a patient with active EG stained forCDH26. FIG. 5C depicts quantification of the intensity and prevalence ofCDH26-positive cells. FIG. 5D depicts CDH26 protein levels in gastricantrum.

FIGS. 6A-B depict an analysis of cytokine transcript levels in gastrictissue. FIG. 6A depicts cytokine gene expression in the gastric antrumtissue of the same population of patients used in the microarray study.FIG. 6B depicts cytokine gene expression in the gastric antrum tissue ofthe population of patients used in the replication cohort.

FIGS. 7A-D depict the increased CDH26 transcript and protein levels inthe esophageal tissue of patients with EoE. FIG. 7A depicts CDH26transcript from the esophageal tissue of either normal patients orpatients with EoE. FIG. 7B depicts CDH26 transcript levels from theesophageal tissue of patients obtained during the index endoscopy fromwhich the gastric specimens were obtained. FIG. 7C depicts CDH26 proteinexpression and localization in esophageal tissue. FIG. 7D depicts CDH26and beta-actin (top) and their ratio (bottom) from total protein lysatesprepared from esophageal biopsy specimens from an independent cohort ofpatients who either had active EoE or no history of EGID.

FIGS. 8A-F depict the increased CDH26 mRNA levels in esophageal andgastric epithelial cells stimulated with IL-13 and the localization ofCDH26 expression in esophageal and gastric epithelial cells. FIG. 8Adepicts primary esophageal epithelial cells were cultured from distalesophageal biopsy specimens. FIG. 8B depicts TE-7 cells after beingtreated with IL-13. FIG. 8C depicts NCI-N87 cells after being treatedwith IL-13. FIG. 8D depicts TE-7 cells that were transduced with eitherpMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26. FIG. 8E depicts surface biotinylation ofTE-7 cells. FIG. 8F depicts surface biotinylation of NCI-N87 cells.

FIGS. 9A-F depict the biochemical characterization of CDH26 andinvestigation of CDH26 protein-protein interactions. FIG. 9A depictswestern blot analysis after transiently transfecting HEK 293T cells withthe indicated construct(s). FIG. 9B depicts the western blot analysisfollowing post-translational modification of CDH26. FIG. 9C depicts thesimilarity between the beta-catenin binding domain of CDH1(E-cadherin)(SEQ ID NO: 105) and the corresponding domain of CDH26 (SEQID NO: 106). FIG. 9D depicts western blot analysis after transientlytransfecting HEK 293T cells with the indicated construct(s). FIG. 9Edepicts western blot analysis after transiently transfecting HEK 293Tcells with the indicated construct(s). FIG. 9F depicts western blotanalysis after transiently transfecting HEK 293T cells with theindicated construct(s).

FIGS. 10A-C depict characterization of CDH26 localization in HEK 293Tcells transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control or pMIRNA1-puro-CDH26.FIG. 10A depicts western blot analysis for CDH26 and beta-actin forcells that were treated with sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin to biotinylate surfaceproteins. FIG. 10B depicts FACS analysis of cells stained with eitheranti-CDH26 or an equivalent amount of IgG control antibody. FIG. 10Cdepicts immunofluorescence microscopy of cells stained with eitheranti-CDH26 or an equivalent amount of IgG control antibody.

FIG. 11 depicts the impact of CDH26 on eotaxin-1-mediated eosinophiltransmigration through a cell monolayer.

FIG. 12 depicts CDH26 protein expression by eosinophils.

FIGS. 13A-B depict results of CDH26 cell surface overexpression. FIG.13A depicts results showing that CDH26 overexpression increases HEK 293Tcell adhesion. FIG. 13B depicts results demonstrating that TE-7 cellsthat overexpress CDH26 exhibit increased secretion of eotaxin-3 afterstimulation with IL-13 compared to control cells.

FIGS. 14A-B depict the CDH26 3′ untranslated region (UTR) sequence andshow that deletion of particular sequences within this 3′ UTR result inincreased protein expression. FIG. 14A depicts the CDH26 3′ UTR sequence(SEQ ID NO: 107). FIG. 14B depicts the ratio of Firefly to Renillaluciferase for each sample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in theirentirety. Also incorporated herein by reference in their entiretyinclude: U.S. Patent Application No. 60/633,909, EOTAXIN-3 INEOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Dec. 27, 2004; U.S. Pat. No.8,030,003, DIAGNOSIS OF EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS BASED ON PRESENCE OF ANELEVATED LEVEL OF EOTAXIN-3, issued Oct. 4, 2011 and filed as U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/721,127 on Jun. 7, 2007; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/492,456, EVALUATION OF EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS,filed on Jun. 26, 2009; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/628,992,IL-13 INDUCED GENE SIGNATURE FOR EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Dec.1, 2009; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/430,453, A STRIKING LOCALESOPHAGEAL CYTOKINE EXPRESSION PROFILE IN EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS,filed on Jan. 6, 2011; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/051,873,METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR MITIGATING EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS BYMODULATING LEVELS AND ACTIVITY OF EOTAXIN-3, filed on Mar. 18, 2011;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/132,884, DETERMINATION OFEOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Jun. 3, 2011; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/497,796, NEGATIVE REGULATION OF EOSINOPHIL PRODUCTIONBY TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS, filed on Jun. 16, 2011; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/571,115, DIAGNOSTIC METHODS OF EOSINOPHILICESOPHAGITIS, filed on Jun. 21, 2011; U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/132,295, METHODS OF DETERMINING EFFICACY OF GLUCOCORTICOID TREATMENTOF EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Aug. 22, 2011; PCT PatentApplication No. US2012/020556, ESOPHAGEAL CYTOKINE EXPRESSION PROFILESIN EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Jan. 6, 2012; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/602,897, ESOPHAGEAL MICRORNA EXPRESSION PROFILES INEOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Feb. 24, 2012; PCT Patent ApplicationNo. TBD, BLOCKAGE OF EOSINOPHIL PRODUCTION BY TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS, filedon Jun. 18, 2012; and PCT Patent Application No. TBD, DIAGNOSTIC METHODSFOR EOSINOPHILIC ESOPHAGITIS, filed on Jun. 21, 2012.

Unless otherwise noted, terms are to be understood according toconventional usage by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

As used herein, the term “sample” encompasses a sample obtained from asubject or patient. The sample can be of any biological tissue or fluid.Such samples include, but are not limited to, sputum, saliva, buccalsample, oral sample, blood, serum, plasma, blood cells (e.g., whitecells), circulating cells (e.g., stem cells or endothelial cells in theblood), tissue, core or fine needle biopsy samples, cell-containing bodyfluids, free floating nucleic acids, urine, stool, peritoneal fluid, andpleural fluid, liquor cerebrospinalis, tear fluid, or cells therefrom,and the like. Samples can also include sections of tissues such asfrozen or fixed sections taken for histological purposes ormicrodissected cells or extracellular parts thereof. A sample to beanalyzed is tissue material from a gastric tissue biopsy obtained byaspiration or punctuation, excision or by any other surgical methodleading to biopsy or resected cellular material. Such a sample cancomprise cells obtained from a subject or patient. In some embodiments,the sample is a body fluid that include, for example, blood fluids,serum, plasma, lymph, ascitic fluids, gynecological fluids, or urine butnot limited to these fluids. In some embodiments, the sample can be anon-invasive sample, such as, for example, a saline swish, a buccalscrape, a buccal swab, and the like.

As used herein, the term “assessing” includes any form of measurement,and includes determining if an element is present or not. The terms“determining,” “measuring,” “evaluating,” “assessing” and “assaying” canbe used interchangeably and can include quantitative and/or qualitativedeterminations.

As used herein, the term “modulated” or “modulation,” or “regulated” or“regulation” and “differentially regulated” refers to both upregulation(i.e., activation or stimulation, e.g., by agonizing or potentiating)and down regulation (i.e., inhibition or suppression, e.g., byantagonizing, decreasing or inhibiting).

As used herein, the term “diagnosing or monitoring” with reference toeosinophilic gastritis (EG) refers to a method or process of determiningif a subject has or does not have EG, or determining the severity ordegree of EG, or determining the remission status of EG.

As used herein, the term “subject” refers to any member of the animalkingdom. In some embodiments, a subject is a human patient.

As used herein, the terms “treatment,” “treating,” “treat,” and thelike, refer to obtaining a desired pharmacologic and/or physiologiceffect. The effect can be prophylactic in terms of completely orpartially preventing a disease or symptom thereof and/or can betherapeutic in terms of a partial or complete cure for a disease and/oradverse effect attributable to the disease. “Treatment,” as used herein,covers any treatment of a disease in a subject, particularly in a human,and includes: (a) preventing the disease from occurring in a subjectwhich may be predisposed to the disease but has not yet been diagnosedas having it; (b) inhibiting the disease, i.e., arresting itsdevelopment; and (c) relieving the disease, i.e., causing regression ofthe disease and/or relieving one or more disease symptoms. “Treatment”can also encompass delivery of an agent or administration of a therapyin order to provide for a pharmacologic effect, even in the absence of adisease or condition.

As used herein, the term “transcriptome” refers to the set of allmessenger RNA (mRNA) molecules, or “transcripts,” produced in one or apopulation of cells. This term can also include non-translated RNAswhich affect cellular characteristics because of gene regulationfunctions (silencing or activation or stabilization or degradation ofother genes and transcripts). The term can be applied to the total setof transcripts in a given organism, or to the specific subset oftranscripts present in a particular cell type. Unlike the genome, whichis roughly fixed for a given cell line (excluding mutations), thetranscriptome can vary with external environmental conditions. Becauseit includes all RNA transcripts in the cell, the transcriptome reflectsthe genes that are being actively expressed at any given time, with theexception of mRNA degradation phenomena such as transcriptionalattenuation. It also includes posttranscriptional events such asalternative splicing.

As used herein, the term “expression levels” refers, for example, to adetermined level of gene expression. The term “pattern of expressionlevels” refers to a determined level of gene expression compared eitherto a reference gene (e.g. a housekeeping gene or inversely regulatedgenes) or to a computed average expression value (e.g. in DNA-chipanalyses). A pattern is not limited to the comparison of two genes butis more related to multiple comparisons of genes to reference genes orsamples. A certain “pattern of expression levels” can also result and bedetermined by comparison and measurement of several genes as disclosedherein and display the relative abundance of these transcripts to eachother.

As used herein, a “reference pattern of expression levels” refers to anypattern of expression levels that can be used for the comparison toanother pattern of expression levels. In some embodiments of theinvention, a reference pattern of expression levels is, for example, anaverage pattern of expression levels observed in a group of healthy ordiseased individuals, serving as a reference group.

As used herein, the term “marker” or “biomarker” refers to a biologicalmolecule, such as, for example, a nucleic acid, peptide, protein,hormone, and the like, whose presence or concentration can be detectedand correlated with a known condition, such as a disease state. It canalso be used to refer to a differentially expressed gene whoseexpression pattern can be utilized as part of a predictive, prognosticor diagnostic process in healthy conditions or a disease state, orwhich, alternatively, can be used in methods for identifying a usefultreatment or prevention therapy.

As used herein, an “eosinophilic disorder”, or “eosinophilia-associatedcondition”, or “eosinophilia-associated disease” can refer to anycondition that features an enhanced level of eosinophils or theiractivation state or a disease with clinical or pathological featurescaused by eosinophils, at least in part. Such conditions include, butare not limited to, eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorder,eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilicgastroenteritis, eosinophilic colitis, eosinophilic jejunitis,eosinophilic duodenitis, eosinophilic pneumonia, eosinophilic fasciitis,eosinophilic cellulitis, eosinophilic vasculitis, eosinophilic myositis,allergies, asthma, atopic dermatitis, nasal polyposis, allergicrhinitis, drug eruption, drug hypersensitivity, eosinophilic cystitis,interstitial cystitis, bullous pemhigoid, bullous vegetans, primaryimmunodeficiency, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), infectionsuch as invasive aspergillus fumigatus, allergic bronchopulmonaryaspergillosis, eosinophilic leukemia, Churg-Strauss syndrome, andhypereosinophilic syndrome, and the like.

As used herein, an “inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder” can refer toany condition that features a level of inflammation in thegastrointestinal tract, with or without the presence of eosinophils.Such conditions include, but are not limited to, inflammatory boweldisease (IBD), H. pylori gastritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAID) gastritis, acute gastritis, alcohol-induced gastritis, pepticulcer disease, and the like.

As used herein, an “allergic inflammatory condition” or “allergicinflammatory disorder” can refer to any condition that featureseosinophil and/or mast cell-associated inflammation, allergen-inducedgastrointestinal inflammation, and/or symptoms associated therewith.Such conditions include, but are not limited to, eosinophilic disorders,inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, food-protein gastroenteritis,and the like.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has a unique transcriptome identified ingene microarray studies of esophageal biopsies from affected patients(Blanchard, C. et al. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 118:1054-9 (2006)). Themost upregulated gene in EoE is eotaxin-3, a cytokine that attractseosinophils into tissue. Eotaxin-3 is expressed by esophageal epithelialcells in EoE in vivo and in vitro, and the T helper (T_(H)2) cytokineinterleukin-13 (IL-13) is markedly increased in EoE biopsies and inducesesophageal epithelial cells cultured from EoE to increase eotaxin-3expression (Blanchard, C. et al. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 118:1054-9(2006); Blanchard, C. et al. J. Immunol. 184:4033-41 (2010)).

While EoE has been described considerably, other forms of eosinophilicgastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), such as eosinophilic gastritis (EG),are less well understood, with poorly defined diagnostic criteria. Asdescribed herein, biopsies from EG patients were studied using a varietyof methods in order to increase knowledge of the genetic and molecularabnormalities in EG. Global transcript analysis was performed toidentify genes differentially expressed in the gastric tissue ofpatients with active EG compared to control individuals. Furthercharacterization of the gene and protein expression patterns ofcadherin-like 26 (CDH26), a heretofore undescribed cadherin that seemsto be specific for allergic inflammation, was undertaken throughreal-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis, as CDH26was found to be a gene product markedly overexpressed in EGID tissue.CDH26 protein interactions were examined using transient transfectionand immunoprecipitation analysis.

As described herein, gastric tissue of patients with EG was found toexhibit a conserved pattern of gene expression. A conserved set of 28genes were found to be up-regulated and 76 found to be down-regulated ingastric tissue of patients with active EG compared to control patients.Of these genes, only 11 overlapped with those previously identified asbeing dysregulated in the esophageal tissue of patients with EoE,including CDH26, which represented the most highly overexpressed gene inEG biopsies (20.9-fold, p<0.01). Epithelial cells exhibited increasedCDH26 protein expression in both esophageal and gastric tissue ofpatients with active EoE or EG, respectively. Similar to EoE, IL-13transcript levels were highly increased in the gastric tissue ofpatients with active EG (375-fold, p<0.01). IL-13 was found to induceCDH26 expression in primary esophageal epithelial cells, TE-7 esophagealepithelial cells, and NCI-N87 gastric cells in vitro. CDH26, anuncharacterized member of the cadherin superfamily of proteins,exhibited homotypic interaction and additionally interacted withbeta-catenin, alpha-catenin, and p120/delta-catenin when expressedectopically in HEK 293T cells.

The results presented herein define a molecular signature in the gastrictissue of patients with EG and demonstrate EG inflammation mechanisms byidentifying a signature of genes commonly dysregulated in the gastrictissue of EG patients, thereby elucidating the molecular pathways thatunderly the pathogenesis of this disease. These findings provide a setof genes that can be used for the molecular diagnosis of EG. Becausestomach biopsies are routinely obtained with esophageal biopsies duringupper endoscopy, the EG diagnostic panel described herein can becombined with existing esophageal diagnostic panels to provide apowerful diagnostic tool for eosinophilic conditions. The EG diagnosticpanel, or at least one marker or gene from Table 9 and/or Table 10 or asubset of markers or genes from Table 9 and/or Table 10, can be usedalone or can be enhanced by combination with determination of eotaxin-3mRNA expression levels or eotaxin-3 protein.

In addition, the expression pattern and function of CDH26, a geneproduct markedly overexpressed in EGID tissue, has been determined forEG and EoE. CDH26 transcripts and protein are highly upregulated in boththe esophageal tissue of patients with active EoE and the gastric tissueof patients with active EG. CDH26 was found to have the functionalactivity of modifying eosinophil chemoattraction. Furthermore, CDH26 wasfound to have the functional activity of modifying cell adhesion.Additionally, CDH26 was found to have the functional activity ofmodifying the effects of IL-13 on epithelial cells.

IL-13 transcript levels were found to be significantly increased in thegastric tissue of patients with active EG, and CDH26 was found to beregulated in part by IL-13 in esophageal and gastric epithelial cells.Furthermore, CDH26 molecules were further found to exhibit homotypicinteraction and form complexes containing catenin proteins, such asbeta-catenin, alpha-catenin, and p120, similar to other molecules in thecadherin family of proteins; the catenin proteins link cadherinmolecules to the actin cytoskeleton. These findings demonstrate thefunction of CDH26 in cell adhesion. In addition, eosinophiltransmigration through monolayers of HEK 293T cells overexpressing CDH26is increased compared to transmigration through control cells. As such,CDH26 was found to be a major cadherin that is regulated by IL-13, whichis a T_(H)2- and allergy-promoting cytokine, and is found to beexpressed in allergic GI tissue and with a key role in various aspectsof allergic disease pathogenesis and diagnosis.

CDH26 is therefore involved with allergic inflammation in general,including EGIDs, inflammatory GI disorders, and other allergic diseases.Accordingly, anti-CDH26-based therapeutics can be used to treat allergicdiseases.

Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are directed to methods ofdiagnosing EG in a subject, wherein the methods comprise applying asample from the subject to a diagnostic panel that contains markersselected from Tables 9 and 10, analyzing the results to determineexpression levels of the markers, and making a determination as to theEG status of the subject based upon the expression levels of themarkers.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods ofdistinguishing EG from other disorders in a subject, wherein the methodscomprise applying a sample from the subject to a diagnostic panel thatcontains markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10, analyzing theresults to determine expression levels of the markers, and making adetermination as to the EG status of the subject based upon theexpression levels of the markers. In some embodiments, the otherdisorder is an EGID. For example, some embodiments involve thedifferentiation of EG from EoE, which should not involve abnormalexpression of markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10 in thestomach. In some embodiments, the other disorder is a non-eosinophilicinflammatory GI disorder. For example, some embodiments involve thedifferentiation of EG from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) ornon-eosinophilic gastritis, such as H. pylori gastritis or non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) gastritis, or the like.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods ofdistinguishing EG from other inflammatory GI disorders in a subject,wherein the methods comprise applying a sample from the subject to adiagnostic panel that contains markers selected from Tables 9 and 10,analyzing the results to determine expression levels of the markers, andmaking a determination as to the EG status of the subject based upon theexpression levels of the markers.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods of monitoringor guiding treatment for a subject suffering from EG, wherein themethods comprise applying a sample from the subject to a diagnosticpanel that contains markers selected from Tables 9 and 10, analyzing theresults to determine expression levels of the markers, and making adetermination as to the EG status of the subject based upon theexpression levels of the markers, and developing or modifying a therapyfor the subject based upon the results of the diagnostic panel. In someembodiments, the monitoring of treatment includes identifying exposureto a specific therapy. In some embodiments, the specific therapy is onethat targets EG molecules, or downstream genes affected by the same.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of analyzing anarchival sample obtained from a subject for indication of EG in thesubject, the methods comprising obtaining the archival sample, applyingthe to a diagnostic panel that contains markers selected from Tables 9and 10, analyzing the results to determine expression levels of themarkers, and making a determination as to the EG status of the subjectbased upon the expression levels of the markers. In some embodiments,the archival sample is a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE)sample.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of developing ormodifying a therapy for a subject in need thereof, the methodscomprising applying a sample from the subject to a diagnostic panel thatcontains markers selected from Tables 9 and 10, analyzing the results todetermine expression levels of the markers, and making a determinationas to the EG status of the subject based upon the expression levels ofthe markers, and developing or modifying a therapy for the subject basedupon the determination.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of determiningcompliance with medical management in a subject undergoing therapy forEG, the methods comprising applying a sample from the subject to adiagnostic panel that contains markers selected from Tables 9 and 10,analyzing the results to determine expression levels of the markers, andmaking a determination as to the EG status of the subject based upon theexpression levels of the markers, and determining compliance withmedical management based upon the determination.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to kits for the detectionof a level of one or more genes associated with EG, comprising one ormore oligonucleotide probes complementary to subsequences of said one ormore markers or genes, wherein the one or more markers or genes areselected from Table 9 and/or Table 10. In some embodiments, the one ormore probes are used in at least one of a gene chip, an expressionarray-based protocol, a PCR protocol, or an RNA level-based protocol,including, for example, RNA-seq, and the like.

Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of determining anallergic inflammation status in a subject, including applying a samplefrom the subject to a diagnostic panel that comprises the CDH26 markeror gene, to obtain a result, analyzing the result to determine a levelof expression of CDH26, and determining the allergic inflammation statusof the subject based upon the level of expression. In some embodiments,the diagnostic panel further comprises at least one marker or geneselected from Table 9 and/or Table 10.

Embodiments of the invention are also directed to methods of treating anallergic inflammatory condition in a subject in need thereof, includingidentifying a subject with an allergic inflammatory condition, andadministering to the subject an anti-CDH26-based therapeutic, whereinadministration of the anti-CDH26-based therapeutic results in treatmentof the allergic inflammatory condition. In some embodiments, wherein theanti-CDH26-based therapeutic includes compounds or compositions thatsuppress CDH26 activity. In some embodiments, the compound orcomposition that suppresses CDH26 activity includes CDH26-Fc fusionproteins, CDH26 anti-sense polynucleotides, CDH26-directed microRNAs(miRNAs), CDH26-directed short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), CDH26-directedhumanized antibodies, CDH-related peptides, or catenin-based inhibitors.In some embodiments, the compound or composition that suppresses CDH26activity is one that targets a binding site and/or protein of at leastone gamma-interferon-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) consensussequence within a CDH26 3′ untranslated region (UTR).

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method disclosed hereincan include three steps, which can be finished within 1 working day (6-8hours with multiple sample capacity). RNA extraction can be performed ona patient gastric biopsy sample. After RNA quantity/quality measurement,RNA from the sample is subjected to reverse transcription (RT) reaction.Next, cDNA corresponding to the reverse-transcribed RNA or mRNA directlyis analyzed for expression of at least one of the genes, or a subset ofthe genes or all of the genes, as listed in Tables 9 and 10, as a singleor multiplex format using at least one of a variety of genequantification techniques. The data is analyzed to determine expressionlevels of the markers or genes as disclosed herein to establish an EGdiagnosis, which serves as the basis for the final diagnostic report.The EG diagnosis can serve as a basis for a final diagnostic report aswell as in assisting selection or modification of an appropriate therapyfor the patient.

In some embodiments, the EG markers or genes are measured using afluidic card loaded with the EG markers or genes. In some embodiments,the representative EG genes described herein or a subset of these genesare measured using other methods and/or tools, including for example,but not limited to, Taqman (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.),Light-Cycler (Roche Applied Science, Penzberg, Germany), ABI fluidiccard (Life Technologies), NanoString® (NanoString Technologies, Seattle,Wash.), NANODROP® technology (Thermo Fisher Scientific (Wilmington,Del.), and the like. The person of skill in the art will recognize suchother formats and tools, which can be commercially available or whichcan be developed specifically for such analysis.

In some embodiments, CDH26, which can be used as a marker or gene forallergic inflammatory conditions, is measured using a fluidic cardloaded with the CDH26 marker or gene. In some embodiments, CDH26 can beused alone or in combination with one or more of the representative EGgenes described herein or a subset of these genes and can be measuredusing other methods and/or tools, including for example, but not limitedto, Taqman (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.), Light-Cycler (RocheApplied Science, Penzberg, Germany), ABI fluidic card (LifeTechnologies), NanoString® (NanoString Technologies, Seattle, Wash.),NANODROP® technology (Thermo Fisher Scientific (Wilmington, Del.), andthe like. The person of skill in the art will recognize such otherformats and tools, which can be commercially available or which can bedeveloped specifically for such analysis.

EG Diagnostic Genes

In embodiments of the invention, EG is diagnosed based upon a panelcontaining markers or genes selected from the representative EG geneslisted in Tables 9 and 10.

In some embodiments the diagnostic panel contains at least one marker orgene selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments the at least onemarker or gene includes CDH26. In some embodiments the diagnostic panelcontains at least 10 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. Insome embodiments, the diagnostic panel contains at least 20 markers orgenes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the diagnosticpanel contains at least 30 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and10. In some embodiments, the diagnostic panel contains at least 40markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, thediagnostic panel contains at least 50 markers or genes selected fromTables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the diagnostic panel contains atleast 60 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In someembodiments, the diagnostic panel contains at least 70 markers or genesselected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the diagnostic panelcontains at least 80 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. Insome embodiments, the diagnostic panel contains at least 90 markers orgenes selected from Table Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, thediagnostic panel contains at least 100 markers or genes selected fromTables 9 and 10.

In some embodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panel contains 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and10. In some embodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panel contains10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, or 19 markers or genes selected fromTables 9 and 10. In some embodiments of the invention, the diagnosticpanel contains 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, or 29 markers orgenes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments of theinvention, the diagnostic panel contains 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37,38, or 39 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In someembodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panel contains 40, 41, 42,43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, or 49 markers or genes selected from Tables 9and 10. In some embodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panelcontains 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, or 59 markers or genesselected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments of the invention, thediagnostic panel contains 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, or 69markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments ofthe invention, the diagnostic panel contains 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76,77, 78, or 79 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In someembodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panel contains 80, 81, 82,83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, or 89 markers or genes selected from Tables 9and 10. In some embodiments of the invention, the diagnostic panelcontains 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99 markers or genesselected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments of the invention, thediagnostic panel contains 100, 101, 102, 103, or 104 markers or genesselected from Tables 9 and 10.

In some embodiments, the diagnostic panel contains anywhere between 1 to28 markers or genes selected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments,the diagnostic panel contains anywhere between 1 to 76 markers or genesselected from Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the diagnostic panelcontains all of the markers or genes listed in Tables 9 and 10.

Allergic Inflammatory Diagnostic Genes

In embodiments of the invention, an allergic inflammatory condition isdiagnosed based upon expression of the CDH26 marker or gene.

In some embodiments, diagnosis of an allergic inflammatory condition isbased upon a panel containing CDH26 and markers or genes selected fromthe genes listed in Tables 9 and 10. In some embodiments, the diagnosticpanel contains CDH26 and at least one marker or gene selected fromTables 9 and 10.

Anti-CDH-26-Based Therapeutics

Some embodiments of the invention relate to blocking or suppressingCDH26 activity by administration of an anti-CDH26-based therapeutic,thereby treating an allergic inflammatory condition.

In some embodiments, anti-CDH26-based therapeutics that can be used inthe treatment of allergic inflammatory conditions include for example,but are not limited to, CDH26-Fc fusion proteins, CDH26 anti-sensepolynucleotides, CDH26-directed microRNAs (miRNAs), CDH26-directed shorthairpin RNAs (shRNAs), CDH26-directed humanized antibodies, CDH-relatedpeptides, catenin-based inhibitors, and the like. In some embodiments,anti-CDH26-based therapeutics that can be used in the treatment ofallergic inflammatory conditions include for example, but are notlimited to, compounds or compositions that target a binding site and/orprotein of at least one GAIT consensus sequence within a CDH26 3′ UTR.

In some embodiments, anti-CDH26-based therapeutics that can be used inthe treatment of allergic inflammatory conditions include molecules thatare structurally similar to those listed above. Structurally similarcompounds are those that are not structurally identical but can havesimilar CDH26 inhibitory function, though the CDH26 inhibitory functioncan be substantially increased or decreased. Heretofore unknownanti-CDH26-based therapeutics can be contemplated and designed based onknowledge of a known anti-CDH26-based therapeutic. Anti-CDH26-basedtherapeutics for the treatment of eosinophilia-associated conditions canbe identified by known methodologies. One of skill in the art canrecognize anti-CDH26-based therapeutics that can be used in the presentinvention.

Heretofore unknown anti-CDH26-based therapeutics can be developed by thescreening of various compounds. Compounds that can be screened todetermine their utility as anti-CDH26-based therapeutics include forexample, but are not limited to, libraries of known compounds, includingnatural products, such as plant or animal extracts, synthetic chemicals,biologically active materials including proteins, peptides such assoluble peptides, including but not limited to members of random peptidelibraries and combinatorial chemistry derived molecular libraries madeof D- or L-configuration amino acids, or both, phosphopeptides(including, but not limited to, members of random or partiallydegenerate, directed phosphopeptide libraries), antibodies (including,but not limited to, polyclonal, monoclonal, chimeric, human,anti-idiotypic or single chain antibodies, and Fab, F(ab′)₂ and Fabexpression library fragments, and epitope-binding fragments thereof),organic and inorganic molecules, and the like.

In addition to the more traditional sources of test compounds, computermodeling and searching technologies permit the rational selection oftest compounds by utilizing structural information from the ligandbinding sites relevant proteins. Such rational selection of testcompounds can decrease the number of test compounds that must bescreened in order to identify a therapeutic compound. Knowledge of thesequences of relevant proteins allows for the generation of models oftheir binding sites that can be used to screen for potential ligands.This process can be accomplished in several manners known in the art. Apreferred approach involves generating a sequence alignment of theprotein sequence to a template (derived from the crystal structures orNMR-based model of a similar protein(s), conversion of the amino acidstructures and refining the model by molecular mechanics and visualexamination. If a strong sequence alignment cannot be obtained then amodel can also be generated by building models of the hydrophobichelices. Mutational data that point towards residue-residue contacts canalso be used to position the helices relative to each other so thatthese contacts are achieved. During this process, docking of the knownligands into the binding site cavity within the helices can also be usedto help position the helices by developing interactions that wouldstabilize the binding of the ligand. The model can be completed byrefinement using molecular mechanics and loop building using standardhomology modeling techniques. (General information regarding modelingcan be found in Schoneberg, T. et. al. Molecular and CellularEndocrinology 151:181-93 (1999); Flower, D. Biochimica et BiophysicaActa 1422:207-34 (1999); and Sexton, P. Current Opinion in DrugDiscovery and Development 2:440-8 (1999).)

Once the model is completed, it can be used in conjunction with one ofseveral existing computer programs to narrow the number of compounds tobe screened by the screening methods of the present invention, like theDOCK program (UCSF Molecular Design Institute, San Francisco, Calif.).In several of its variants it can screen databases of commercial and/orproprietary compounds for steric fit and rough electrostaticcomplementarity to the binding site. Another program that can be used isFLEXX (Tripos Inc., St. Louis, Mo.).

Administration

Administration of anti-CDH26-based therapeutics as disclosed herein canbe used in methods of treating or preventing an allergic inflammatorycondition in a subject in need thereof. Anti-CDH26-based therapeuticsinclude those that suppresses CDH26 activity. For example,anti-CDH26-based therapeutics include, but are not limited to, CDH26-Fcfusion proteins, CDH26 anti-sense polynucleotides, CDH26-directedmiRNAs, CDH26-directed shRNAs, CDH26-directed humanized antibodies,CDH-related peptides, catenin-based inhibitors, and the like.Anti-CDH26-based therapeutics also include compounds or compositionsthat target a binding site and/or protein of at least one GAIT consensussequence within a CDH26 3′ UTR.

Anti-CDH26-based therapeutics can be administered by anypharmaceutically acceptable carrier, including, for example, any and allsolvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungalagents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like,compatible with pharmaceutical administration. The use of such media andagents for pharmaceutically active substances is known in the art.Except insofar as any conventional medium or agent is incompatible withthe active compound, such media can be used in the compositions of theinvention. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporated intothe compositions. A pharmaceutical composition of the invention isformulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration.Routes of administration include for example, but are not limited to,intravenous, intramuscular, and oral, and the like. Additional routes ofadministration include, for example, sublingual, buccal, parenteral(including, for example, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraarterial,intradermal, intraperitoneal, intracisternal, intravesical, intrathecal,or intravenous), transdermal, oral, transmucosal, and rectaladministration, and the like.

Solutions or suspensions used for appropriate routes of administration,including, for example, but not limited to parenteral, intradermal, orsubcutaneous application, and the like, can include, for example, thefollowing components: a sterile diluent such as water for injection,saline solution, fixed oils, polyethylene glycols, glycerine, propyleneglycol or other synthetic solvents; antibacterial agents such as benzylalcohol or methyl parabens; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or sodiumbisulfate; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid;buffers such as acetates, citrates, or phosphates and agents for theadjustment of tonicity such as sodium chloride or dextrose, and thelike. The pH can be adjusted with acids or bases, such as, for example,hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide, and the like. The parenteralpreparation can be enclosed in, for example, ampules, disposablesyringes, or multiple dose vials made of glass or plastic, and the like.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for injectable use include, forexample, sterile aqueous solutions (where water soluble) or dispersionsand sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterileinjectable solutions or dispersion, and the like. For intravenousadministration, suitable carriers include, for example, physiologicalsaline, bacteriostatic water, Cremophor ELTM (BASF, Parsippany, N.J.) orphosphate buffered saline (PBS), and the like. In all cases, thecomposition should be fluid to the extent that easy syringabilityexists. The carrier can be a solvent or dispersion medium containing,for example, water, ethanol, polyol (for example, glycerol, propyleneglycol, and liquid polyethylene glycol, and the like), and suitablemixtures thereof, and the like. The proper fluidity can be maintained,for example, by the use of a coating such as lecithin, by themaintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersion andby the use of surfactants. Prevention of the action of microorganismscan be achieved by various antibacterial and antifungal agents, such as,for example, parabens, chlorobutanol, phenol, ascorbic acid, thimerosal,and the like. In many cases, it can be preferable to include isotonicagents, such as, for example, sugars, polyalcohols such as mannitol,sorbitol, and sodium chloride, and the like, in the composition.Prolonged absorption of the injectable compositions can be brought aboutby including in the composition an agent which delays absorption suchas, for example, aluminum monostearate and gelatin, and the like.

Sterile injectable solutions can be prepared by incorporating the activecompound in the required amount in an appropriate solvent with one or acombination of ingredients enumerated above, as required, followed byfiltered sterilization. Generally, dispersions are prepared byincorporating the active compound into a sterile vehicle that contains abasic dispersion medium and the required other ingredients from thoseenumerated above. In the case of sterile powders for the preparation ofsterile injectable solutions, the preferred methods of preparation arevacuum drying and freeze-drying which yields a powder of the activeingredient plus any additional desired ingredient from a previouslysterile-filtered solution thereof.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an ediblecarrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules or compressed intotablets, for example. For oral administration, the agent can becontained in enteric forms to survive the stomach or further coated ormixed to be released in a particular region of the gastrointestinal (GI)tract by known methods. For the purpose of oral therapeuticadministration, the active compound can be incorporated with excipientsand used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules, or the like. Oralcompositions can also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as amouthwash, wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orallyand swished and expectorated or swallowed. Pharmaceutically compatiblebinding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of thecomposition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches, and the like cancontain any of the following exemplary ingredients, or compounds of asimilar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gumtragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, adisintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel®, or corn starch; alubricant such as magnesium stearate; a glidant such as colloidalsilicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or aflavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orangeflavoring, or the like.

For administration by inhalation, the compounds can be delivered in theform of an aerosol spray from pressured container or dispenser, whichcontains a suitable propellant, e.g., a gas such as carbon dioxide, or anebulizer, or the like.

Systemic administration can also be by transmucosal or transdermalmeans. For transmucosal or transdermal administration, penetrantsappropriate to the barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation.Such penetrants are generally known in the art, and include, forexample, for transmucosal administration, detergents, bile salts, andfusidic acid derivatives, and the like. Transmucosal administration canbe accomplished through the use of nasal sprays or suppositories. Fortransdermal administration, the active compounds are formulated intoointments, salves, gels, or creams as generally known in the art.

The compounds can also be prepared in the form of suppositories (e.g.,with conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and otherglycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

In one embodiment, the active compounds are prepared with carriers thatwill protect the compound against rapid elimination from the body, suchas a controlled release formulation, including implants andmicroencapsulated delivery systems, and the like. Biodegradable,biocompatible polymers can be used, such as, for example, ethylene vinylacetate, polyanhydrides, polyglycolic acid, collagen, polyorthoesters,and polylactic acid, and the like. Methods for preparation of suchformulations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The materialscan also be obtained commercially from Alza Corporation and NovaPharmaceuticals, Inc. Liposomal suspensions (including liposomestargeted to infected cells with monoclonal antibodies to viral antigens)can also be used as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. These can beprepared according to methods known to those skilled in the art, forexample, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,811, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

It is especially advantageous to formulate oral or parenteralcompositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration anduniformity of dosage. “Dosage unit form” as used herein refers tophysically discrete units suited as unitary dosages for the subject tobe treated; each unit containing a predetermined quantity of activecompound calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect inassociation with the required pharmaceutical carrier. The details forthe dosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directlydependent on the unique characteristics of the active compound and theparticular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitationsinherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for thetreatment of individuals. Such details are known to those of skill inthe art.

Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent thatmodifications, variations, and equivalent embodiments are possiblewithout departing the scope of the invention defined in the appendedclaims. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that all examples in thepresent disclosure are provided as non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrateembodiments of the invention disclosed herein. It should be appreciatedby those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in theexamples that follow represent approaches that have been found tofunction well in the practice of the invention, and thus can beconsidered to constitute examples of modes for its practice. However,those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure,appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodimentsthat are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Example 1 Patient Selection

Entry criteria were that patients who had signs and symptoms consistentwith upper GI tract disease and had biopsies that documented activeeosinophilic gastritis (EG), with gastric tissue samples preserved forgenetic and molecular analyses. The endoscopic procedure at whichsamples for histopathology, gene microarray, and PCR analyses wereobtained was designated the incident endoscopy. All gastric samples usedfor ancillary studies were obtained from the antrum, and all samplesobtained for routine histology and immunohistochemistry were obtainedfrom the antrum or antrum/body.

Active EG was defined as increased numbers of eosinophils, which werethe predominant inflammatory cells in some areas, in a gastric biopsythat showed architectural abnormalities, including excessively branchedand/or coiled glands. Similar criteria were used to diagnoseeosinophilic duodenitis (ED), eosinophilic jejunitis (EJ), andeosinophilic colitis (EC). Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) was diagnosedif at least 15 eosinophils were found per high power field (Furuta, G.et al. Gastroenterology 133:1342-63 (2007)).

EG patients who met entry criteria were identified in the CincinnatiCenter for Eosinophilic Disorders (CCED) database. Controls wereidentified in the CCED database as patients without eosinophilic GIdisease who otherwise met entry criteria and who were matched for ageand sex to the EG patients. Clinical information was obtained from theCCED database and review of medical records.

Example 2 Histopathology and Genetic and Molecular Analysis

Biopsy Preparation

Samples were obtained at the incident endoscopy from the duodenum,stomach, and esophagus of all patients. Some patients also hadcolonoscopy. Biopsies for histologic evaluation were fixed in 10%formalin, routinely processed, and embedded in paraffin. Sections werecut at 5 microns thickness and stained with hematoxylin and eosin orantibody. Alcian blue/PAS stain (Polyscientific, Bay Shore, N.Y.) wasalso performed on all biopsies.

Immunohistochemistry

Antibody information is provided in Table 1. The antibodies used forimmunohistochemical staining in this study, their source, the dilutionat which they were used, and the antigen retrieval method applied to thetissue sections are listed. Immunohistochemical stains were performedusing a Ventana Benchmark XT automated immunostainer (Ventana, Tucson,Ariz.).

Quantitative Microscopy

Multiple levels of gastric biopsies were surveyed, the area containingthe greatest concentration of eosinophils was identified, andeosinophils were counted at 400× (0.3 mm²) to generate a peak eosinophilcount. A peak eosinophil count was also obtained for biopsies from othersites in the GI tract if eosinophils appeared excessive. In a similarmanner, cells that stained with antibodies were counted at 400×magnification in the area showing the greatest concentration of stainedcells. If possible, quantitative evaluations were performed inwell-oriented areas.

Microarray Analyses

Gastric antrum samples collected during the incident endoscopy werestored in RNAlater until subjected to RNA isolation using the miRNeasykit (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.), per the manufacturer's instructions.Hybridization to DNA microarray using the GeneChip Human Genome U133Plus 2.0 Array (Agilent, Santa Clara, Calif.) was performed by theMicroarray Core at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center(CCHMC).

Quantitative PCR

Total RNA was isolated from biopsy specimens using the miRNeasy kit(Qiagen), per the manufacturer's suggested procedure. Total RNA wasisolated from cells using Trizol (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), per themanufacturer's protocol. Total RNA (100 ng-1 μg) was used to synthesizecDNA using Superscript II Reverse Transcriptase (Invitrogen) using theprotocol suggested by the manufacturer. Real-time (RT-) PCR wasperformed using the IQ5 system (Biorad, Hercules, Calif.). Reactionswere carried out using SYBR green mix (BioRad). The value obtained foreach primer set was normalized to the GAPDH value for the correspondingsample. Primer sequences used in the RT-PCR studies are listed in Table2.

Constructs

pCDNA3.1 (−) was obtained from Promega (Madison, Wis.). Expressionplasmids were constructed by PCR amplification of the relevant openreading frame using primers listed in Table 3. The following primerswere used: pCDH26-HA: 4177 and 4242, pCDH26-MYC: 4177 and 4241, pCDH26:4177 and 4178, pHA-CTNNB1: 4590 and 4367, pCTNNB1-HA: 4366 and 4593,pCTNNA1-HA: 4370 and 4701, pCTNND1: 4468 and 4469. PCR products werethen ligated into the following restriction sites of pCDNA3.1 (−):pCDH26-HA: EcoRI/KpnI, pCDH26-MYC: EcoRI/KpnI, pCDH26: EcoRI/NotI,pHA-CTNNB1: XbaI/KpnI, pCTNNB1-HA: XbaI/KpnI, pCTNNA1-HA: EcoRI/KpnI,pCTNND1: EcoRI/KpnI. pMIRNA1-puro-control has been described previously(Lu, et al., 2012). pMIRNA1-puro-CDH26 was made by introducing the CDH26open reading frame into the EcoRI and NotI sites ofpMIRNA1-puro-control.

Immunofluorescence Microscopy

TE-7 cells, NCI-N87 cells, or HEK 293T cells were grown on glasscoverslips. Cells were fixed in ice-cold acetone for 10 minutes,incubated in blocking buffer (PBS, 1% saponin, 3% FBS), and thenincubated with either primary antibody or an equal concentration ofcontrol antibody in blocking buffer: CDH26, 0.06 μg/ml (Sigma-Aldrich,St. Louis, Mo.); control, normal rabbit IgG (R & D Systems, Minneapolis,Minn.). Sections were incubated with Alexa 594-conjugated secondaryantibody (1:250) (Invitrogen). Sections were washed 3 times with PBSafter each antibody incubation. Fluromount G containing DAPI was usedfor mounting. Sections were visualized using the BX51 microscope, DP72camera, and DP2-BSW imaging software (Olympus America Inc., CenterValley, Pa.).

TABLE 1 Immunohistochemical antibody information. Antigen AntibodyVendor Dilution retrieval Cadherin- Sigma-Aldrich 1:50 EDTA, 30 min like26 St. Louis, MO MIB-1 Ventana Medical Systems, Inc Predilute EDTA, 30min Tucson, AZ CD117, c-kit Cell Marque Corp Predilute EDTA, 30 minRocklin, CA Tryptase Ventana Medical Systems, Inc Predilute None Tucson,AZ IL-13 Gene Tex, Inc 1:25 None Irvine, CA FOXP3 Abcam Inc. 1:200 EDTA,30 min Cambridge, MA Helicobacter Ventana Medical Systems, Inc PrediluteEDTA, 30 min pylori Tucson, AZ

TABLE 2  RT-PCR primers. Transcript Forward Primer (5′ to 3′)Reverse Primer (5′ to 3′) Reference GAPDH TGGAAATCCCATCACCATCTGTCTTCTGGGTGGCAGTGAT * CDH26 TGCTTTTTCTGTTGCGATGCT CTTGCCATAACCCCAGCTCThis Study IL-4 ACATCTTTGCTGCCTCCAA AGGCAGCGAGTGTCCTTCT ** IL-5GCTTCTGCATTTGAGTTTGCTAGCT TGGCCGTCAATGTATTTCTTTATTAAG *** IL-13ACAGCCCTCAGGGAGCTCAT TCAGGTTGATGCTCCATACCAT ** IFN-gammaGTTTTGGGTTCTCTTGGCTGTTA AAAAGAGTTCCATTATCCGCTACATC **** TNF-alphaCCCCAGGGACCTCTCTCTAATC GGTTTGCTACAACATGGGCTACA **** IL-17AAATCTCCACCGCAATGAGGA ACGTTCCCATCAGCGTTGA ***** IL-17FTGCCAGGAGGTAGTATGAAGCTT ATGCAGCCCAAGTTCCTACACT ****** IL-25TGAAGTGCTGTCTGGAGCAG TCCTCAGAATCATCCATGTC ******* IL-33CACCCCTCAAATGAATCAGG GGAGCTCCACAGAGTGTTCC ******** *Blanchard, C. et al.J. Clin. Invest. 116:536-47 (2006), **Vicario, M. et al. Gut 59:12-20(2010), ***Ehlers, S. et al. J. Exp. Med. 173:25-36 (1991), ****Boeuf,P. et al. BMC Immunol. 6:5 (2005), *****Bullens, D. et al. Respir. Res.7:135 (2006), ******Yang, J. et al. Arthritis Rheum. 60:1472-83 (2009),*******Hwang and Kim Mol. Cells 19:180-4 (2005), ********Carriere, V. etal. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104:282-7 (2007)

TABLE 3  Primers used to generate expression constructs. PrimerDesignation Primer (5′ to 3′) 4177 GGAATTCACCATGGCCATGAGATCCGGGAGG 4178ATAAGAATGCGGCCGCTTAGGAAGGAACACCTGACT 4241GGGGTACCTTACAGGTCCTCCTCGCTGATCAGCTTCTGCTCGGAAGGAACACCTGACT 4242GGGGTACCTTAGGCGTAGTCGGGCACGTCGTAGGGGTAGGAAGGAACACCTGACT 4366GCTCTAGACACCATGGCTACTCAAGCTGATTTG 4367 GGGGTACCTTACAGGTCAGTATCAAACC 4370GGAATTCACCATGACTGCTGTCCATGCAGG 4590GCTCTAGACACCATGTACCCCTACGACGTGCCCGACTACGCCGCTACTCAAGCTGATTTG 4593GGGGTACCTTAGGCGTAGTCGGGCACGTCGTAGGGGTACAGGTCAGTATCAAACC 4701GGGGTACCTTAGGCGTAGTCGGGCACGTCGTAGGGGTAGATGCTGTCCATAGCTTTG 4468GGAATTCACCATGGACGACTCAGAGGTGG 4469 GGGGTACCCTAAATCTTCTGCATGGAGG

Example 3 Cell Culture and Treatment

Culture of Primary Esophageal Epithelial Cells

A sample of distal esophageal epithelium was collected during incidentor other endoscopy. Following digestion with trypsin/EDTA, biopsysamples were cultured in modified F-media (3:1 F-12/Dulbecco modifiedEagle's medium) supplemented with FBS (5%), adenine (24.2 μg/ml),cholera toxin (10-4 μmol/L), insulin (5 μg/ml), hydrocortisone (0.4μg/ml), and epidermal growth factor (10 ng/ml) in the presence ofpenicillin, streptomycin, and amphotericin (Invitrogen). Cultures weresupplemented with 1 to 5×10⁵ feeders (NIH 3T3 J2 cells irradiated 6000rad). Media were changed twice weekly. Upon reaching confluency, cellswere trypsinized and re-plated for experiments.

Culture of Cell Lines and Cytokine Treatment

Cells from human esophageal cell line TE-7 (IARC, Lyon, France) weremaintained in RPMI medium (Invitrogen) supplemented with 5% FBS (AtlantaBiologicals, Lawrenceville, Ga.) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin(Invitrogen). HEK 293T cells were grown in DMEM medium (Invitrogen)supplemented with 10% FBS (Atlanta Biologicals) and 1%penicillin/streptomycin (Invitrogen). NCI-N87 cells were obtained fromATCC (Manassas, Va.) and cultured in RPMI medium (Invitrogen)supplemented with 10% FBS (Atlanta Biologicals) and 1%penicillin/streptomycin (Invitrogen). IL-13 (Peprotech, Rocky Hill,N.J.) was added to culture media at 10 or 100 ng/ml for 24 or 48 hours.

Example 4 Protein Analyses

Protein Extracts and Immunoprecipitation

To confirm and complement microscopic studies of biopsy samples usingantibodies, additional analyses of protein expression were performed.For immunoprecipitation, cell lysates were prepared from HEK 293T cellsgenerally, as previously described (Klingelhofer, J. et al. Mol. CellBiol. 22:7449-58 (2002)). Cells (approximately 2×10⁶) were washed onetime with PBS and incubated in IP buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 150mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol, 1% Nonidet P-40 (NP-40), 20 μMphenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride) for 10 minutes on ice. Cells were scrapedfrom the plate and rotated at 4° C. for 10 minutes. Lysates were clearedby centrifugation at 20,000×g at 4° C. for 10 minutes. An equal amountof protein was added to total 500 μl of IP buffer plus proteaseinhibitors (Roche, Indianapolis, Ind.). Antibodies (2 μg each for eitherα-HA (Covance, Princeton, N.J.), α-myc (Cell Signaling Technology,Danvers, Mass.), α-p120 (BD Transduction Laboratories, Lexington, Ky.),or mouse IgG1 control (AbD Serotec, Raleigh, N.C.)) were added to thelysates and rotated overnight at 4° C. Subsequently, 20 μl of proteinA/G agarose beads (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc., Santa Cruz, Calif.)were added per sample. After 2 hours of rotation at 4° C., beads andimmunoprecipitates were washed 5 times in IP buffer containing proteaseinhibitors. 2× Laemmli buffer was added to the immunoprecipitates ortotal cell lysates saved prior to IP (input) prior to SDS-PAGE analysis,as described below.

Western Blot Analyses

Total protein (5-10 μg for TE-7 and primary esophageal epithelialcells), inputs, or immunoprecipitates (as described above) were loadedonto 4-12% NuPage Tris-bis gels (Invitrogen), electrophoresed for 1.5hours at 150 V, and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, followed bywestern blot analysis. Primary antibodies were diluted in TBS/0.1% Tween20 containing 5% milk in the following proportions: rabbit anti-CDH26(Sigma-Aldrich), 1:500; rabbit anti-Beta-catenin (Cell SignalingTechnology, Inc., Danvers, Mass.); mouse anti-HA (Covance), 1:1000;mouse anti-myc (Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.), 1:1000; mouseanti-beta-actin (Sigma-Aldrich), 1:5000. Secondary antibodies wereincubated with the membranes in the following proportions: anti-goatHRP, 1:10,000 (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., West Grove,Pa.); anti-rabbit HRP, 1:10,000 (Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.);anti-mouse HRP, 1:10,000 (Cell Signaling Technology, Inc.). Blots weredeveloped using ECL Plus reagent (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, N.J.).Densitometry measurements were performed using Multi Gauge V3.0(Fujifilm, Japan).

Protein Extracts from Esophageal and Gastric Tissue

Biopsy samples collected from the distal esophagus or the gastric antrumsamples designated for protein isolation were stored in RNAlater at −80°C. prior to protein isolation. Tissue was transferred into 100 μl of IPbuffer (50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4), 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA, 1 mMdithiothreitol, 1% Nonidet P-40 (NP-40), 20 μM phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride) and sonicated. The lysates were cleared and soluble lysateswere subjected to protein quantitation by BCA assay, and the indicatedquantity of protein was subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis,as described above. Alternatively, protein was isolated from the organicfraction remaining after isolation of RNA using the miRNeasy kit toisolate RNA from biopsy specimens. Briefly, DNA was precipitated by theaddition of 0.3 volumes of 100% ethanol followed by spin at 2,000×g.Protein was then precipitated from the supernatant by the addition of 3volumes of acetone. Precipitated protein was pelleted by centrifugationat 20,000×g for 10 minutes at 4° C., dried, and solubilized in 2×Laemmli buffer. Solubilized proteins were subjected to SDS-PAGE andwestern blot analysis, as described above.

Example 5 Analysis of Protein Localization

Lentivirus Production and Transduction of TE-7, NCI-N87, and HEK 293TCells

Lentivirus production was carried out by the Cincinnati Children'sHospital Viral Vector Core (CCHMC). TE-7, NCI-N87, or HEK 293T cellswere transduced by incubating lentivirus with the cells for 24 hours inthe presence of 5 μg/ml polybrene. Media were then changed, and mediacontaining 2 μg/ml puromycin was added after 24 hours. After selectionfor 48 hours in puromycin, cells were dispersed and plated to singlecells in 96-well plates to obtain clones derived from single cells. Asecond round of dispersing, plating to single cells, and picking singlecolonies was performed. CDH26 expression was verified by western blotanalysis and, in some cases, FACS analysis.

FACS Analysis

HEK 293T cells clones transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control orpMIRNA1-puro-CDH26 were dispersed by EDTA treatment and then eitherfixed with 2% formaldehyde in FACS buffer (0.5% BSA, 0.01% NaN₃ in1×HBSS) or subjected to staining using BD cytofix/cytoperm reagents (BDBiosciences) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Cells werestained with antibody specific for CDH26 (0.12 μg antibody/50 μl FACSbuffer) (Sigma Prestige) or an equivalent amount of normal rabbit IgG asa control. Cells were then incubated with secondary antibody(anti-rabbit Alexa 647) (Invitrogen). Flow cytometry analysis wasperformed using the FACSCalibur (BD), and analysis was performed usingFlowJo software (TreeStar, Ashland, Oreg.).

Biotinylation of Cell Surface Proteins

Adherent cells were washed with ice-cold biotinylation buffer (100 mMHEPES, 50 mM NaCl, pH 8.0) twice before addition of cold biotinylationbuffer plus sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin (concentration 9.259 mg/ml) (ThermoScientific). Cells were incubated on ice for 30 minutes. The buffer wasremoved, and the cells were washed 3 times with ice cold PBS+100 mMglycine. Protein was then extracted as described above using IP bufferplus protease inhibitors (Klingelhofer, J. et al. Mol. Cell Biol.22:7449-58 (2002)). Cell lysates were incubated withstreptavidin-agarose beads (Sigma-Aldrich) for 2 hours at 4° C. Beadsand precipitates were washed 5 times with cold IP buffer containing 20mM PMSF. The beads were then boiled for 5 minutes (100° C.) in 2×Laemmli buffer, and the solubilized proteins were subjected to SDS PAGEand western blot analyses as described above.

Eosinophil Isolation

One part 4.5% Dextran in PBS was added to 5 parts peripheral bloodcollected from normal donors. Leukocyte-rich plasma was applied to aPercoll gradient (1.5 ml 10×HBSS, 9.5 ml Percoll, 4.5 ml H₂O) and spunat 1300 rpm (500×g) for 30 minutes. Granulocytes were collected and redblood cells were lysed by hypotonic lysis. Granulocytes were incubatedwith anti-CD16 MACS microbeads (Miltenyi Biotec) (1 μl per 1×10⁶ cells)for 30 minutes at 4° C. Cells were then applied to a MACS column, andeosinophils were eluted. Eosinophil purity was confirmed by cytospin andDiffQuick staining and was routinely >95%, and viability was >98%, asassessed by trypan blue exclusion. Eosinophils were resuspended at adensity of 1×10⁶ cells/ml in RPMI+10% FBS+1% penicillin/streptomycin andcultured at 37° C. until they were used in transmigration assays or forprotein isolation.

Eosinophil Transmigration Assay

HEK293T cells transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control orpMIRNA1-puro-CDH26 as described above were plated on transwell inserts(polycarbonate, 6.5 mm diameter, 0.3 μm pore size) (Costar, Tewksbury,Mass.). Eosinophils (1.3×10⁵ at a density of 1×10⁶ cells/ml suspended in1×HBSS plus 1 mM CaCl₂ plus 2% FBS) were applied to the top of thetranswell, while the bottom chamber of the transwell contained 1×HBSSplus 1 mM CaCl2 plus 2% FBS and the indicated concentration ofchemoattractant (human eotaxin-1, Peprotech). Reactions were incubatedat 37° C. for 1.5 hours. The transwells were then subjected toWright-Giemsa staining per the manufacturer's protocol (Harleco, EMDMillipore, Billerica, Mass.) to confirm the confluence of the cells. Thenumber of eosinophils present in the lower chambers was then assessed bycounting the cells using a Hemacytometer (Sigma-Aldrich).

Statistical Analyses

Intergroup comparisons of the numbers of eosinophils and immunoreactivecells in gastric biopsies were made using Student's t test, andsignificance was set at P<0.05. For microarray analyses, gene transcriptlevels were determined, and statistical analyses were performed usingalgorithms in GeneSpring GX v7.3 software (Agilent). For RT-PCRcomparisons, the Mann-Whitney test was used.

Example 6 Characterization of EG Patients and Disease Manifestations

History of Atopic Disease in EG Patients

Information corresponding to each patient involved in the gastric tissuemicroarray study is listed in Table 4. Indication for the indexendoscopy is listed, as well as the macroscopic findings observed duringthe index endoscopy. Diagnosis derived from the index endoscopy isshown, and any EGID diagnosis that was assigned prior to the indexendoscopy is also listed. Duration of EG indicates the amount of timeelapsed between the initial diagnosis of EG and the index endoscopy.Medications at index endoscopy indicate the medications that the patientwas prescribed during the time period immediately prior to the indexendoscopy. Diet at index endoscopy lists the diet that the patient wasprescribed during the time period immediately prior to the indexendoscopy.

There were 4 females and 1 male in the EG and control groups (Table 4).The mean age of EG patients was 12.6±6.2 (range 3-20) years; the meanage of controls was 9±7.3 (range 1-15) years, not significantlydifferent from EG patients.

Table 5 includes patient atopic history, including whether a patient hasa history of the indicated condition, if known. This information wasself-reported by the patient or his/her parent. Patient numberscorrespond to those listed in Table 4.

Four patients in each group reported histories of allergy (Table 5). OneEG patient reported anaphylaxis to food (#2); none of the EG or controlpatients reported anaphylaxis to non-food. One patient in each groupreported a history of asthma, and 1 of these patients (#2) was treatedwith inhaled flovent. Four EG patients were evaluated with skin pricktests that were positive in 2 patients. One EG patient (#1) had skinprick tests that were reportedly positive performed prior to referral tothe CCED. Two EG patients (#1, #2) had multiple positiveradioallergosorbent (RAST) tests. One control patient (#6) was a siblingof a patient with EoE.

Elevated Levels of Blood Eosinophils in EG

Results of laboratory tests performed on peripheral blood obtained theday of the endoscopy or the most proximal blood sample to the day of thebiopsy are listed in Table 6. Complete blood counts were obtained fromall 10 patients, and the absolute eosinophil count was increased in allEG patients but not in any of the control patients (Table 6). Additionaltests included lack of ova and parasites in stool samples from 3 EG (#1,#3, #5) and from 1 control patient (#8). Plasma eosinophil cationicprotein was measured in one EG patient (#1), and it was found to beelevated (314 ng/ml; normal<31.2 ng/ml).

Correlation of Gross Mucosal Appearances with Histological Diagnoses

Gastric mucosal nodularity was reported in 4 of 5 EG patients (Table 4).A small hyperplastic polyp was found at the incisura in one EG patient(#4). White plaques or patches and thickened mucosa were found in theesophagi of 3 EG patients who also had EE. Nodular mucosa in the jejunumwas described in the EG patient who had active EJ. The mucosa appearednormal in all control patients. Indications for the incident endoscopyare listed in Table 4.

Chronic Nature of EG and Frequent Association with Other EGIDs

At the incident endoscopy, all 5 EG patients had active EG. EG patientshad between 1 and 7 prior endoscopies, and 4 of 5 EG patients had priorgastric biopsies that showed active EG (Table 4).

Four EG patients had eosinophilic inflammation in other sites in the GItract in addition to the stomach at incident endoscopy and priorendoscopies (Table 4). Three of the EG patients had EE in addition to EGat index endoscopy.

None of the control patients had eosinophilic inflammation in their GIbiopsies, and all their biopsies were considered non-diagnostic. Controlpatients did not have any GI endoscopies other than the incidentprocedure. The incident endoscopic procedure included colonoscopy in twoEG (#1, #3) and 2 control (#8, #9) patients that yielded normal biopsiesin all 4 patients.

Treatment at Index Endoscopy

Medications for all patients that were listed in the clinical record atthe time of the index endoscopy are shown in Table 4. Fluticasonepropionate, both inhaled and swallowed, was prescribed for 1 EG patientwho had asthma and EoE diagnosed prior to the index endoscopy. Two EGpatients followed an elimination diet at the time of incident endoscopy,and 3 patients had no dietary restrictions.

TABLE 4 Index endoscopy information. Age (yrs)/ Prior Duration Diet atPatient Sex Indication Endoscopic findings Dx EGID Dx of EG Med at IE IE1 EG  3/F Duodenal mass Antrum and jejunum: EG, EG, ED 2.5 mos Ferroussulfate Ad lib nodules EJ 2 EG 20/F Abdominal pain Esophagus: thickenedEG, EoE None Flovent, Protonix Elim mucosa. EoE Antrum: erythema. 3 EG15/F Diarrhea Esophagus: white plaques; EG, EG 8.5 mos Iron, vitamins,probiotics Elim Antrum: nodules EoE 4 EG  13/M Med change Fundus andbody: nodules EG EG  1.4 years MTX, folic acid, prevacid Ad lib Antrum:normal 5 EG 12/F Med change Esophagus: white patches; EG, EG, EoE,   5years Beclo, 6 MP, growth Ad lib Stomach: peristomal EoE EJ hormone,lamisil nodules 6 Con  1/F Vomiting, Normal NDA None None Prevacid Unksiblings with EoE 7 Con 14/F Abdominal pain, Normal NDA None NonePrilosec Ad lib ITP 8 Con 14/F Chronic Normal NDA None None Bactroban Adlib abdominal pain 9 Con  15/M Rectal bleeding Normal NDA None NoneMiralax Ad lib 10 Con  1/F Daily spit ups Normal NDA None None Prevacid,hydrocortisone Ad lib cream Yrs, years; Dx, diagnosis; EGID,eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease; EG, eosinophilic gastritis; Med,medication; IE, incident endoscopy; F, female; M, male; EJ, eosinophilicjejunitis; ED, eosinophilic duodenitis; EoE, eosinophilic esophagitis;Elim, elimination diet; mos, months; MTX, methotrexate; Beclo,beclomethasone; 6-MP, 6 mercaptopurine; NDA, no diagnostic abnormality;Unk, unknown; ITP, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

TABLE 5 Atopic history. Skin Drug Food E prick Patient Asthma AC AR HFU/A Eczema allergy allergy allergy tests 1 EG Unk Unk Unk Unk Unk UnkUnk Yes Unk 2 EG Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes F, E 3 EG No YesYes No No No Yes Yes Yes F, E 4 EG No No No No No No No No No Neg 5 EGUnk No No No No Unk Unk Yes Yes Neg 6 Con No No No No No No No Yes Yes 7Con Yes No No No No No No Yes Yes 8 Con No No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes 9Con No No No No No No No No No 10 Con No No No No Yes No No Unk Unk AC,allergic conjunctivitis; AR, allergic rhinitis; HF, hay fever; U/A,urticaria/angioedema; E, environmental; EG, eosinophilic gastritis; Unk,unknown; F, food; Con, control.

TABLE 6 Laboratory findings. Peripheral Plasma Plasma Plasma γ-eosinophil IL-2 IL-5 Interferon count (pg/ml) (pg/ml) (pg/ml) IgE(mg/dl) Patient (K/μL) (%) (normal) (normal) (normal) (normal) CRP Clo 1EG 3.07 (21%) 24 (<18) 9 (<24) Nl Neg 2 EG 1.22 (19%) 62 (<114) Nl Neg 3EG 2.42 (35%) 100 (<114)  Nl Neg 4 EG 0.65 (9%) <6 (<18) 27 (<24) 82(<68) Nl 5 EG 0.31 (8%) Nl Neg 6 Con 0 (0%) Neg 7 Con 0.09 (1%) <6 (<18)3 (<39) <5 (<154) Neg 8 Con 0.07 (1%) Nl Neg 9 Con 0.12 (1%) Nl Neg 10Con 0.17 (2%) 2 (<53) CRP, C-reactive protein; Clo, campylobacter-likeorganism test/rapid urease test; Nl, normal; Neg, negative. Abnormalvalues are italicized; CRP and Clo tests were normal for all patients.

Example 7 Gastric Biopsy Histopathology

Marked Eosinophilic Inflammation

Table 7 shows the quantitative evaluation of inflammatory and epithelialcells. Data numbers represent peak counts/hpf for eosinophils, and cellswere stained with the antibodies indicated at the head of each column.Mean eosinophil number is defined as the mean of peak eosinophilcount/hpf in samples from body/antrum or antrum that were used for theimmunohistochemical stains in the table.

Table 8 shows characteristics for the biopsy specimens of five patientswith active EG. Patient numbers correspond to those in Table 4. Thenumber of biopsy specimen pieces that were diagnostic of EG is comparedto the total number of pieces obtained per patient per anatomical sitein the third column. The fourth and fifth columns denote the number ofeosinophils present per hpf in the field that exhibited the highesteosinophil count for the antral and fundic mucosa specimens,respectively. Peak eosinophil counts for antral vs. fundic mucosa weresubjected to T-test, and the p-value was >0.05. The mean+/−SD for thehighest peak eosinophil count (antral or fundic mucosa) was alsocalculated.

Gastric biopsies from all EG patients showed active eosinophilicdisease, with markedly increased numbers of eosinophils (Table 7, FIG.1A). The mean and standard deviation values for the highest peakeosinophil counts in EG biopsies, including biopsies submitted inaddition to those from antrum or antrum/body (Table 8), was 355±214eosinophils/hpf (range 122-603 eosinophils/hpf), compared to 10.6±7.1eosinophils/hpf (range 3-21 eosinophils/hpf) in controls (P<0.05). Themean of the peak eosinophil counts in antral-type mucosa was similar tothat in fundic-type mucosa.

Although the number of eosinophils did not differ according to the typeof gastric mucosa, in all cases, eosinophilic inflammation wasnon-uniform, varying among and even within pieces. The percent of piecesthat were diagnostic for EG ranged from 20-100% in a submitted sample(Table 8).

In addition to showing variations in quantity of eosinophils, in EGbiopsies, the distribution of eosinophils within pieces was differentcompared to controls. Eosinophils in EG biopsies spanned the depth ofthe mucosa and often appeared concentrated in superficial laminapropria. In contrast, eosinophils in control biopsies were confined tothe deep lamina propria. Numerous intraepithelial eosinophils wereobserved in glands in EG biopsies but not in controls. Submucosa waspresent in 3 EG biopsies, and submucosal eosinophils were observed butwere fewer than in the lamina propria. Submucosa was present in onecontrol biopsy, but submucosal eosinophils were not seen.

Correlation of Peak Eosinophil Counts with Peripheral Blood EosinophilCounts

The highest peak eosinophil counts in EG biopsies correlatedsignificantly with absolute eosinophil counts in peripheral blood (FIGS.1B-1C). The significant correlation remained after cases in which theblood sample had not been obtained at the time of index endoscopy wereremoved from the analysis. Tissue eosinophil counts did not correlatewith blood eosinophil counts in control patients.

EG Pathology in Addition to Eosinophilic Inflammation

Architectural changes in EG biopsies included elongated and excessivelybranched or coiled glands. In contrast to controls, lamina propriafibrosis was seen in 3 EG cases. In areas in which eosinophils were notnumerous in EG biopsies, chronic inflammation was sometimes seen,including numerous plasma cells. In one EG case, few acute inflammatorycells were seen in the epithelium of few glands. Helicobacter pyloriorganisms were not seen in biopsies from either group in H&E stains orin sections stained with antibody to the organisms. Intestinalmetaplasia was not seen in any of the EG biopsies, as corroborated withAlcian blue/PAS stain. Intestinal metaplasia was seen in one controlbiopsy (#8).

Increased Cell Proliferation

The mucosa in EG biopsies was not atrophic and indeed often appearedthickened with elongated glands. Therefore, a study was designed toidentify whether increased cell proliferation is present in EG.

Epithelial cells and lamina propria cells in both EG and controlbiopsies were stained with MIB1 antibody, which is a marker of cellproliferation that decorates nuclei in all phases of the cell cycleexcept GO. Lamina propria cells that stained included cells in lymphoidaggregates; lamina propria cells near lymphoid aggregates were notincluded in quantitative evaluations since lymphoid aggregates were notpresent in all cases.

The number of epithelial and lamina propria cells that stained with MIB1antibody was greater in EG compared to control biopsies (Table 7). Thepattern of epithelial cell staining was remarkably altered in the EGbiopsies. In several EG cases, there was expansion of the proliferativezone to include continuous staining of surface epithelial cells, apattern not seen in control cases (FIG. 2). A subsequent study wasdesigned to further characterize the inflammatory infiltrate in EGbiopsies using immunohistochemistry.

Involvement of Other Inflammatory Cells

Mast cells—The presence of mast cells was assessed in gastric biopsiesby using CD117 antibody, which stains the tyrosine kinase receptor c-kitthat is normally expressed on the membrane of mast cells, and tryptaseantibody, which stains a protease normally found in mast cell granules.In all gastric biopsies, there were significantly more cells thatstained with anti-CD117 compared to cells that stained withanti-tryptase: 51±3.8 vs 31.8±7.3, P<0.05 for controls and 93.8±33.1 vs31±15.5, P<0.05 for EG biopsies (Table 7).

In control biopsies, CD117⁺ cells and tryptase⁺ cells were most numerousin lamina propria but were also seen in muscularis mucosa and submucosa.Gastric antrum sections from a biopsy obtained during the indexendoscopy were stained to observe CD117 localization. The cells wereseen throughout the lamina propria but were usually more numerous in thedeep lamina propria. In EG biopsies, cells stained with CD117 ortryptase were seen in the same distribution as in control biopsies butappeared more numerous in the superficial lamina propria compared tocontrols. In EG biopsies, cells that stained with CD117, but nottryptase, were significantly increased compared to control biopsies(Table 7).

IL-13—In control biopsies, IL-13⁺ cells appeared most numerous in thedeep lamina propria, but they were present throughout the depth of themucosa in EG biopsies, including the superficial lamina propria. Thenumber of IL-13⁺ cells in each group was highly variable and there wasnot a significant difference in the numbers of IL-13⁺ cells in EG casescompared to controls (Table 7).

The number of IL-13⁺ cells was found to correlate significantly with thenumber of tryptase⁺ mast cells. Gastric antrum sections from a biopsyobtained during the index endoscopy for each patient included in thestudy were stained to identify cells that expressed tryptase; separatebiopsy specimens were stained for IL-13. The number of tryptase-positivecells was then correlated with the number of IL-13-positive cells.

FOXP3—In contrast to eosinophils, mast cells, and IL-13⁺ cells, FOXP3⁺lymphocytes were most numerous in and immediately adjacent to lymphoidaggregates. Lymphoid aggregates were seen in 2 EG cases; FOXP3⁺ cellsnumbered 36 FOXP3⁺ cells/hpf and 46 FOXP3⁺ cells/hpf in and near theaggregates. In the 3 control cases, lymphoid aggregates exhibited 57FOXP3⁺ cells/hpf, 0 FOXP3⁺ cells/hpf, and 6 FOXP3⁺ cells/hpf. Sincelymphoid aggregates were not found in all biopsies, only cells in thelamina propria not associated with lymphoid aggregates were counted. Thenumber of FOXP3⁺ cells was significantly increased in EG biopsiescompared to controls (Table 7).

FIG. 1A. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained gastric antrum biopsy specimenswere obtained from the index endoscopy of each patient included in thisstudy (magnification=200× or 400×). Patient numbers correspond to thosein the tables and the text.

FIG. 1B. The peak eosinophil count was obtained for the gastric tissueobtained at the index endoscopy for all patients and was correlated withthe absolute eosinophil number (K/μL) counted from a blood sampleobtained either the same day as the endoscopy or the most proximal timeperiod possible.

FIG. 1C. The peak eosinophil count was obtained for the gastric tissueobtained at the index endoscopy for patients with active EG and wascorrelated with the absolute eosinophil number (K/μL) counted from ablood sample obtained either the same day as the endoscopy or the mostproximal time period possible.

FIG. 2. Quantification and correlation of tryptase- and IL-13-positivecells in gastric antrum tissue are depicted. Gastric antrum sectionsobtained during the index endoscopy were stained with anti-tryptase oranti-IL-13 antibodies. The numbers of tryptase-positive cells andIL-13-positive cells per high power field were quantified.

TABLE 7 Quantitative evaluation of inflammatory and epithelial cells.MIB1 Patient Eosinophils epithelium MIB1 lp CD117 Tryptase IL-13 FOXP3CDH26 1 EG 567 528 27 82 55 62 11 135 2 EG 298 425 103 61 20 8 32 54 3EG 553 558 49 114 28 28 28 241 4 EG 79 470 28 71 16 11 7 91 5 EG 197 775121 141 36 14 14 0 Mean ± SD 338 ± 216 551 ± 135 65.6 ± 43.7 93.8 ± 33.1  31 ± 15.5 24.6 ± 22.3 18.4 ± 11 6 Con 21 190 14 48 40 52 5 0 7 Con 13289 17 53 20 13 1 0 8 Con 5 591 10 46 33 9 3 0 9 Con 3 135 15 55 34 19 80 10 Con 11 237 17 53 32 2 4 0 Mean ± SD 10.6 ± 7.1  288 ± 178 14.6 ±2.9   51 ± 3.8 31.8 ± 7.3  19 ± 19.5  4.2 ± 2.6 P value <0.05 <0.05<0.05 <0.05 >0.05 >0.05 <0.05 Data numbers are peak eosinophilcounts/hpf for eosinophils; cells stained with the antibodies areindicated at the head of each column. Mean eosinophil #, mean of peakeosinophil count/hpf in samples from body/antrum or antrum that wereused for the immunohistochemical stains in the table.

TABLE 8 Biopsy characteristics. Fundic Diagnostic Antral mucosa mucosaSample #/total # Peak Peak Patient source pieces eosinophil # eosinophil# 1 EG Body/antrum* 2/5 (40%) 139/hpf 567/hpf Antral nodules 3/4 (75%)603/hpf None 2 EG Body/antrum* 2/4 (50%) 298/hpf  35/hpf 3 EGBody/antrum* 5/5 (100%) 553/hpf None 4 EG Antrum* 1/2 (50%)  79/hpf NoneBody 2/5 (40%)  87/hpf 122/hpf 5 EG Body/antrum* 1/5 (20%)  97/hpf197/hpf Mean ± SD Antral vs 328 ± 244/hpf 230 ± 234/hpf fundic Pvalue >0.05 Mean ± SD Highest 355 ± 214/hpf # number; *biopsy used forimmunohistochemistry that corresponded to tissue samples used forgenetic and molecular analyses; P value, mean of antral values comparedto fundic values.

Example 8 Unique Transcriptome of EG Biopsies

A subsequent study was designed to determine the molecular mechanismscontrolling the pathogenesis of EG. Accordingly, RNA isolated fromgastric antrum biopsy specimens from EG and control patients wassubjected to global transcript analysis.

Of the transcripts studied, 104 were identified that exhibiteddifferential regulation between the gastric tissue of these patients,including 28 that were up-regulated in EG patients and 76 that weredown-regulated in EG patients compared to controls (Tables 9 and 10,respectively; FIG. 3A). Transcript levels of eotaxin-3 were monitoredusing cDNA derived from the gastric antrum tissue of patients used inthe original microarray cohort and normalized to GAPDH levels for eachsample. In both cohorts, relative eotaxin-3 transcript levels weresignificantly increased in the gastric tissue of patients with EGcompared to that of control patients (FIG. 3B).

The transcripts identified in the EG transcriptome (this study) and theEoE transcriptome (Blanchard, C. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 116:536-47(2006)) were compared, and transcripts present in both lists are shownalong with the fold change in gene expression observed comparing thegene expression values derived from tissue of patients with activedisease to tissue of control patients. Of the transcripts dysregulatedin EG, 10 were also identified as being differentially regulated in theesophageal tissue of patients with active EoE, with six of these beingregulated in a similar manner in both EoE and EG (Table 11, Blanchard,C. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 116:536-47 (2006)).

FIG. 3A. RNA isolated from the gastric antrum tissue of control patientsor patients with active EG was subjected to microarray analysis.Transcripts with p<0.01 (ANOVA) and additionally passing 2-fold filteranalysis were defined as being differentially regulated between controland EG patients. Relative gene expression values are indicated per geneand per patient.

FIG. 3B. Transcript levels of eotaxin-3 were monitored using cDNAderived from the gastric antrum tissue of patients used in the originalmicroarray cohort and normalized to GAPDH levels for each sample

TABLE 9 Genes up-regulated in EG patients compared to controls. Fold SEQID Affy ID Change Gene Gene description NO 232306_at 12.25 CDH26Cadherin-like 26 1 206207_at 9.634 CLC Charcot-Leyden crystal protein 2205534_at 6.583 PCDH7 BH-protocadherin (brain-heart) 3 206726_at 5.552PGDS Prostaglandin D2 synthase, hematopoietic 4 219727_at 4.991 DUOX2Dual oxidase 2 5 217110_s_at 3.825 MUC4 Mucin 4, cell surface associated6 218532_s_at 3.813 FAM134B family with sequence similarity 134, memberB 7 218510_x_at 3.63 FAM134B family with sequence similarity 134, memberB 8 204393_s_at 3.256 ACPP Acid phosphatase, prostate 9 229332_at 3.197HPDL 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-like 10 224480_s_at 2.973AGPAT9 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 9 11 213355_at 2.89ST3GAL6 ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 6 12202587_s_at 2.842 AK1 Adenylate kinase 1 13 219763_at 2.693 DENND1ADENN/MADD domain containing 1A 14 213924_at 2.674 MPPE1Metallophosphoesterase 1 15 204895_x_at 2.434 MUC4 Mucin 4,tracheobronchial, cell surface associated 16 233085_s_at 2.415 OBFC2Aoligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding fold containing 2A 17 31874_at2.306 GAS2L1 Growth arrest-specific 2 like 1 18 1556588_at 2.291C15orf37 Hypothetical protein LOC283687 19 224461_s_at 2.266 AMIDApoptosis-inducing factor (AIF)-like mitochondrion- 20 associatedinducer of death 222872_x_at 2.23 OBFC2Aoligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding fold containing 2A 21 201037_at2.167 PFKP Phosphofructokinase, platelet 22 238846_at 2.165 TNFRSF11ATumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11a, 23 NFKBactivator 207820_at 2.109 ADH1A Alcohol dehydrogenase 1A (class I),alpha polypeptide 24 219403_s_at 2.1 HPSE Heparanase 25 204140_at 2.06TPST1 Tyrosylprotein sulfotransferase 1 26 209729_at 2.042 GAS2L1 Growtharrest-specific 2 like 1 27 210254_at 2.006 MS4A3 membrane-spanning4-domains, subfamily A, member 3 28 (hematopoietic cell-specific)

TABLE 10 Genes down-regulated in EG patients compared to controls. FoldSEQ ID Affy ID Change Gene Gene description NO 1568777_at 0.497 EML5Echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 5 29 233932_at 0.497AL109791 EST from clone 1206988, full insert 30 1565830_at 0.497KIAA1731 KIAA1731 protein 31 UI-H-FL1-bfw-c-18-0-UI.s1 NCI_CGAP_FL1 Homosapiens cDNA clone 1555858_at 0.493 LOC440944 UI-H-FL1-bfw-c-18-0-UI 3′,mRNA sequence. 32 229141_at 0.49 WDR33 WD repeat domain 33 33 241996_at0.49 RUFY2 RUN and FYVE domain containing 2 34 227663_at 0.489 AK098220CDNA FLJ40901 fis, clone UTERU2003704 35 234193_at 0.488 KIAA1579Hypothetical protein FLJ10770 36 235716_at 0.487 TRA2A Transformer-2alpha 37 232489_at 0.486 FLJ10287 Hypothetical protein FLJ10287 38UI-H-FL1-bfw-c-18-0-UI.s1 NCI_CGAP_FL1 Homo sapiens cDNA clone1555860_x_at 0.485 LOC440944 UI-H-FL1-bfw-c-18-0-UI 3′, mRNA sequence.39 219317_at 0.483 POLI Polymerase (DNA directed) iota 40 232431_at0.483 NR3C1 Nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1(glucocorticoid receptor) 41 230578_at 0.481 ZNF471 Zinc finger protein471 42 244008_at 0.478 PARP8 poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase family, member8 43 232395_x_at 0.477 LOC340351 ATP/GTP binding protein-like 3 44221211_s_at 0.476 C21orf7 Chromosome 21 open reading frame 7 45235803_at 0.476 CRLF3 Cytokine receptor-like factor 3 46 238484_s_at0.475 RPS8 Ribosomal protein S8 47 RST5450 Athersys RAGE Library Homosapiens cDNA, mRNA sequence. 239735_at 0.474 AC146944.2 (LincRNA) 48228497_at 0.473 SLC22A15 Solute carrier family 22 (organic cationtransporter), member 15 49 232773_at 0.473 MGC13057 Hypothetical proteinMGC13057 50 226181_at 0.47 TUBE1 Tubulin, epsilon 1 51 239556_at 0.47PDE5A Phosphodiesterase 5A, cGMP-specific 52 226587_at 0.468 SNRPN Homosapiens cDNA clone IMAGE: 5288750. small nuclear 53 ribonucleoproteinpolypeptide N. 602574315F1 NIH_MGC_77 Homo sapiens cDNA clone IMAGE:4702635 235611_at 0.467 SREK1 5′, mRNA sequence. splicing regulatoryglutamine/lysine-rich protein 1. 54 1570507_at 0.465 SFRS2IP Splicingfactor, arginine/serine-rich 2, interacting protein 55 242708_at 0.463PEX1 Peroxisome biogenesis factor 1 56 213267_at 0.463 KIAA1117 KIAA111757 1552519_at 0.462 ACVR1C Activin A receptor, type IC 58 211923_s_at0.462 ZNF471 Zinc finger protein 471 59 233037_at 0.461 AF138859 CloneFLB2932 mRNA sequence 60 233019_at 0.46 CNOT7 CCR4-NOT transcriptioncomplex, subunit 7 61 213142_x_at 0.455 PION pigeon homolog (Drosophila)62 Transcribed locus, strongly similar to NP_000700.1 branched chainketo acid 242598_at 0.455 AW294566.1 dehydrogenase E1, alpha polypeptide[Homo sapiens] 63 229546_at 0.454 NSE1 NSE1 64 X-ray repaircomplementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells 5 232633_at0.453 XRCC5 (double-strand-break rejoining; Ku autoantigen, 80 kDa) 65238454_at 0.452 ZNF540 Zinc finger protein 540 66 235786_at 0.436 NUP88Nucleoporin 88 kDa 67 Homo sapiens, clone IMAGE: 5019307, mRNA; HOTAIRM1HOXA 1557050_at 0.432 HOTAIRM1 transcript antisense RNA,myeloid-specific 1 (non-protein coding) 68 1556444_a_at 0.429 AK091686CDNA FLJ34367 fis, clone FEBRA2016621 69 243150_at 0.428 AK093442Transcribed locus 70 223185_s_at 0.427 BHLHB3 Basic helix-loop-helixdomain containing, class B, 3 71 1552852_a_at 0.425 ZSCAN4 Zinc fingerand SCAN domain containing 4 72 236705_at 0.425 TMEM196 transmembraneprotein 196 73 225540_at 0.424 MAP2 Microtubule-associated protein 2 74221833_at 0.419 SIAH1 Seven in absentia homolog 1 (Drosophila) 75243172_at 0.415 AK093713 Homo sapiens cDNA FLJ36394 fis, cloneTHYMU2009104. 76 1556666_a_at 0.409 TTC6 Tetratricopeptide repeat domain6 77 238796_at 0.406 YT521 Splicing factor YT521-B 78 238625_at 0.395C1orf168 Chromosome 1 open reading frame 168 79 231358_at 0.394 MROmaestro 80 239243_at 0.393 ZNF638 Zinc finger protein 638 81 207050_at0.384 CACNA2D1 Calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha 2/delta subunit1 82 208498_s_at 0.381 AMY1A Amylase, alpha 1A; salivary 83 1562612_at0.378 ME2 Malic enzyme 2, NAD(+)-dependent, mitochondrial 84 236824_at0.373 KIAA1906 Homo sapiens KIAA1906 protein (KIAA1906), mRNA. 85227623_at 0.36 CACNA2D1 calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha2/delta subunit 1 86 244708_at 0.355 FLJ33996 hypothetical proteinFLJ33996 87 206017_at 0.349 KIAA0319 KIAA0319 88 1563182_at 0.346 ACVR1Cactivin A receptor, type IC 89 226591_at 0.343 SNRPN small nuclearribonucleoprotein polypeptide N 90 234314_at 0.341 RALGAPA2 Ral GTPaseactivating protein, alpha subunit 2 (catalytic) 91 1560258_a_at 0.314BC035780 Homo sapiens, clone IMAGE: 5590287, mRNA 92 230081_at 0.307PLCXD3 Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, X domaincontaining 3 93 239671_at 0.304 AK055647 CDNA FLJ31085 fis, cloneIMR321000037 94 229160_at 0.301 MUM1L1 Melanoma associated antigen(mutated) 1-like 1 95 230333_at 0.293 SAT Spermidine/spermineN1-acetyltransferase 96 217617_at 0.291 KCTD7 Potassium channeltetramerisation domain containing 7 97 1552851_at 0.282 ZSCAN4 Zincfinger and SCAN domain containing 4 98 244455_at 0.268 KCNT2 Potassiumchannel, subfamily T, member 2 99 221530_s_at 0.26 BHLHB3 Basichelix-loop-helix domain containing, class B, 3 100 206678_at 0.248GABRA1 Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, alpha 1 101 223810_at0.242 KLHL1 Kelch-like 1 (Drosophila) 102 244118_at 0.196 GABRA1Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, alpha 1 103 1568612_at 0.189GABRG2 Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor, gamma 2 104

TABLE 11 Transcripts common between the EoE and EG transcriptomes. EG EEGene Gene description 12.3 22.1 CDH26 cadherin-like 26 9.6 11.8 CLCCharcot-Leyden crystal protein 5.6 6 PGDS prostaglandin D2 synthase,hematopoietic 3.8 4.7 MUC4 mucin 4, cell surface associated 3.3 4.2 ACPPacid phosphatase, prostate 3 0.5 AGPAT9 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphateO-acyltransferase 9 2.4 0.5 MUC4 mucin 4, cell surface associated 2.20.4 TNFRSF11A tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 11a 2.10.4 HPSE heparanase 0.5 0.2 SLC22A15 solute carrier family 22 (organiccation transporter), member 15

Example 9 Increased CDH26 Gene Expression in EG

Cell adhesion is important in EGIDs. Both homophilic and heterophilicadhesion are important. Cadherin molecules consist of a large family ofproteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell adhesion. Theseinteractions can be mediated between cadherins and the same or othercadherin, or between cadherins and other molecules like integrins.Cadherin-like 26 (CDH26), a heretofore uncharacterized member of thisfamily of proteins, appears to be upregulated in variousT_(H)2-associated conditions (Woodruff, et al. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.104:15858-63 (2007); Li and Gasbarre, Int. J. Parasitol. 39:813-24(2009)).

Of the transcripts differentially regulated between EG biopsies andcontrols, CDH26 was the most highly up-regulated gene in the gastrictissue of EG patients (20.9 fold, p<0.01). To compare the relativeexpression of CDH26 to that of other cadherin family members, the meanraw expression value for each cadherin probe present on the microarraywas calculated as an estimate of the relative abundance of eachtranscript.

Of all cadherins, only CDH1 (E-cadherin) and CDH26 were found to exhibitraw signal that would indicate that the transcript is expressed (settingthe threshold for expression of raw signal>100) (FIG. 4A). Similarly,raw signal for cadherin transcripts in esophageal tissue from patientswith active EoE only showed high raw values for CDH1, CDH3 (P-cadherin),and CDH26 (FIG. 4B). CDH26 was further analyzed given its high relativeexpression.

The results from the gene microarray study (FIG. 4C) were verified byperforming RT-PCR analysis using the same samples that had beensubjected to microarray analysis. CDH26 mRNA exhibited 15.3-foldup-regulation in EG compared to control tissue (FIG. 4D). The expressionpattern of CDH26 was confirmed in an independent, replication cohort ofpatients. Relative CDH26 levels were again found to be increased inpatients with active EG (35.6-fold) in the replication cohort (FIG. 4E).

FIG. 4A. Summary of cadherin family member expression levels in inflamedgastric tissue. The mean raw expression values derived from themicroarray data for each cadherin molecule are graphed for the fivepatients with active EG.

FIG. 4B. Summary of cadherin family member expression levels in inflamedesophageal tissue. The mean raw expression values derived from themicroarray data for each cadherin molecule are graphed for the 14patients with active EoE characterized in a previous study (Blanchard,C. et al. J. Clin. Invest. 116:536-47 (2006)).

FIG. 4C. Transcript levels were identified by microarray analysis. CDH26transcript levels were verified using cDNA derived from the gastricantrum tissue of the same population of patients used in the microarraystudy. The fold-change in normalized expression for four CDH26 probes onthe Affymetrix HG U133 Plus 2.0 array is depicted (top left: 232306_at;top right: 233663_s_at; bottom left: 233391_at; bottom right:233662_at).

FIG. 4D. CDH26 and GAPDH transcript levels from the same patient samplessubjected to microarray analysis were quantified by real-time (RT-)PCR.CDH26 levels were normalized to GAPDH levels for each sample and arepresented as fold-change relative to normal.

FIG. 4E. Relative CDH26 levels from a replication cohort of patientswere determined. Data are presented as fold-change relative to normal.

Example 10 Increased CDH26 Protein Expression in EG

A subsequent study was designed to identify the quantity andlocalization of CDH26 protein expression in EG and control biopsies.Immunohistochemistry for CDH26 was performed on EG and control biopsies.

The surface epithelium in 4 of 5 EG biopsies, but none of the controls,was stained with anti-CDH26 (FIG. 5A, Table 7). The staining wascytoplasmic with focal membrane accentuation in the surface epithelialcells in EG biopsies (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Gland epithelial cells in bothgroups showed faint cytoplasmic staining. The intensity of the CDH26signal was graded, and the peak number of CDH26-positive cells per highpower field was quantified for each biopsy and graphed (FIG. 5C).

To confirm the increase in CDH26 protein observed and to confirm themolecular weight of the protein, western blot was performed on lysatesobtained from the gastric antrum tissue of EG and control biopsies.CDH26 protein was found to be increased on average 2.3-fold in thegastric antrum tissue of EG patients compared to that of controlpatients (FIG. 5D).

FIG. 5A. Representative normal and EG biopsy specimens are depicted; theleft panel shows a serial section of the biopsy stained with controlantibody.

FIG. 5B. High magnification of gastric antrum tissue derived from apatient with active EG stained for CDH26 is depicted.

FIG. 5C. Quantification of the intensity and prevalence ofCDH26-positive cells is depicted. The left panel displays the intensityof CDH26 staining, graded on a scale of 1-4, and the number of normaland EG biopsies assigned each score. The right panel displays resultsfrom quantification of the peak number of CDH26-positive cells per highpower field per biopsy.

FIG. 5D. CDH26 protein levels in gastric antrum tissue are depicted.Protein was isolated from the organic phase obtained following RNAisolation from the same gastric tissue. Protein lysates were subjectedto SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis for CDH26 and beta-actin (top).The signal for CDH26 and beta-actin was quantified, and the ratio wasgraphed (bottom).

Example 11 Increased Expression of TH2 Cytokine IL-13 in EG

Cytokine transcripts have previously been shown to be increased and arecritical components in the pathogenesis of EE. Therefore, to identifyfactors that promote EG pathogenesis, cytokine transcript levels in thegastric tissue of EG and control patients were determined.

The T_(H)2 cytokine IL-13 showed significant (on average, 375-fold)up-regulation in EG compared to control biopsies, and a trend towardincreased IL-4 and IL-5 was observed (FIG. 6A). A trend toward decreasedTNF-alpha was seen in EG tissue. None of the other cytokines examined,namely interferon-gamma, IL-17A, IL-17F, or IL-33, exhibited asignificant difference in transcript levels between control and EGpatient tissue (FIG. 6A). Similar patterns of cytokine gene expressionwere observed when the relative levels were examined in the replicationcohort (FIG. 6B). Significant decreases in IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-17Awere observed in EG tissue compared to control tissue in the replicationcohort. Although not tested in the original cohort, IL-25 transcriptlevels were monitored in the replication cohort, with no significantdifference between control and EG tissue noted. In addition, IL-33 wasshown to be significantly decreased in EG tissue compared to controltissue; therefore, IL33 is a dysregulated cytokine in EG.

FIG. 6A. Transcript levels of cytokines were monitored using cDNAderived from the gastric antrum tissue of the same population ofpatients used in the microarray study. Transcript levels for individualcytokines determined by RT-PCR were normalized to GAPDH levels for eachsample.

FIG. 6B. Transcript levels of cytokines were monitored using cDNAderived from the gastric antrum tissue of the population of patientsused in the replication cohort. Transcript levels for individualcytokines were normalized to GAPDH levels for each sample.

Example 12 Replication Cohort

Following the initial genetic, molecular, and histopathologic analyses,biopsies from additional patients who met the entry criteria wereanalyzed. This analysis focused on the most dysregulated genesidentified in the initial cohort. The methods used for the additionalanalyses were identical to those used for the analysis in the initialcohort.

After completion of analyses on the discovery cohort, ten additional EGpatients and five additional control patients were identified in theCCED database who met entry criteria. All patients included in the EGcohort exhibited increased eosinophil numbers and the other alterationsdescribed in the biopsies of the discovery cohort.

Data for the replication cohort are shown in Examples 8, 9, and 11 andin FIGS. 3B and 4E.

Example 13 Up-Regulation of CDH26 in EoE

CDH26 transcripts have been shown previously to be markedly increased inthe esophageal biopsies of patients with EoE (Blanchard, C. et al. J.Clin. Invest. 116:536-47 (2006); Blanchard, C. et al. J. Allergy Clin.Immunol. 120:1292-300 (2007)). Since several of the patients in thisstudy who had active EG also had active EoE at incident endoscopy, astudy was designed to confirm and expand the prior studies concerningCDH26 and EoE.

CDH26 transcript levels in esophageal tissue from normal patients andpatients with active EoE were measured. CDH26 expression was found to besignificantly increased (median=114.9-fold) in the esophageal tissue ofpatients with active EoE (FIG. 7A).

Within the initial cohort of patients used in this study, several hadesophageal biopsy specimens collected for research purposes. The CDH26transcript levels in these biopsy specimens were analyzed, and patientswith EG who also had EoE at the time were found to exhibit increasedesophageal CDH26 transcript levels compared to the normal patients whodid not have concomitant EoE or any other EGID (FIG. 7B). Similarly,patients with active EG but normal esophageal pathology showed lowlevels of CDH26 protein expression, in contrast to EG patients that alsohad esophageal eosinophilia, whose esophageal tissue exhibited highlevels of CDH26 protein expression (FIG. 7C). In a separate cohort ofpatients, esophageal tissue of patients with active EoE showed onaverage 3.4-fold increased CDH26 protein levels compared to thatobserved in control tissue, as determined by western blot (FIG. 7D).

Immunohistochemical staining for CDH26 protein in esophageal biopsiescorresponded with this observation. Esophageal biopsies from EG patientswho had active EoE showed increased staining for CDH26 compared toesophageal biopsies from EG patients who did not have active EoE (FIG.7C). In biopsies without active EoE, the staining was confined toepithelial cells near the surface, but the staining in active EoE wasboth more intense and prevalent and included cells in the expanded basallayer. Peripapillary epithelial cells did not stain in either group(FIG. 7C). In addition, biopsies from patients other than those who werethe focus of this study who had active EoE but not EG showed increasedstaining compared to control patients, particularly in the suprabasalregion of the esophageal epithelium (FIG. 7D).

FIG. 7A. CDH26 transcript levels were determined using cDNA derived fromthe esophageal tissue of either normal patients or patients with EoE andnormalized to GAPDH levels.

FIG. 7B. CDH26 transcript levels were measured using cDNA derived fromthe esophageal tissue of patients obtained during the index endoscopyfrom which the gastric specimens were obtained. CDH26 levels werenormalized to GAPDH levels for the same sample.

FIG. 7C. CDH26 protein expression and localization in esophageal tissueare depicted. Immunohistochemical staining for CDH26 was performed onesophageal biopsy specimens obtained during the index endoscopy fromwhich the gastric specimens were obtained. Patient numbers correspond tothose in Table 4.

FIG. 7D. Total protein lysates were prepared from esophageal biopsyspecimens from an independent cohort of patients who either had activeEoE or no history of EGID. SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis werecarried out to detect CDH26 and beta-actin (top). The signals for CDH26and beta actin were quantified, and the ratio was graphed (bottom).

Example 14 Induced CDH26 Expression VIa IL-13 in Cultured Cells andCDH26 Subcellular Localization, Glycosylation, and Interactions

Previous studies have demonstrated that IL-13 is sufficient to induceCDH26 transcripts in esophageal epithelial cells (Blanchard, C. et al.J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 120:1292-300 (2007)). CDH26 transcript levelsincreased in a dose-dependent manner in primary esophageal epithelialcells treated with IL-13 (FIG. 8A). Similarly, upon IL-13 stimulation,CDH26 mRNA increased in a dose-dependent manner in the esophageal cellline TE-7 (FIG. 8B).

A follow-up study was designed to determine whether IL-13, whichexhibits increased transcript levels in gastric biopsy specimens,induced CDH26 expression in the gastric cell line NCI-N87. Indeed, IL-13stimulation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in CDH26 transcriptsin these cells (FIG. 8C).

Immunohistochemical staining of esophageal biopsies for CDH26 showedcytoplasmic cellular staining with a suggestion of membrane accentuationfocally. A study was therefore desinged to determine the subcellularlocalization of CDH26 protein using cultured esophageal epithelialcells.

Because CDH26 exhibits sequence homology to the cadherin family ofproteins, with 5 cadherin repeats in the putative extracellular portionof the protein, a predicted transmembrane domain, and a C-terminalcytoplasmic region, CDH26 protein can be localized to the plasmamembrane in cells. TE-7 cells transduced with a CDH26 expressionconstruct were fixed and stained with antibodies for CDH26. Signal wasobserved in the cytoplasm and membranes of the cells (FIG. 8D).

To further substantiate the indicated localization of CDH26, surfacebiotinylation of proteins was performed, followed by affinity isolationof biotinylated proteins and western blot analysis for CDH26. Thisindicated that CDH26 was present at the cell surface in TE-7 and NCI-N87cells (FIGS. 8E-8F).

FIG. 8A. Primary esophageal epithelial cells were cultured from distalesophageal biopsy specimens. For each patient, cells were treated intriplicate with the indicated dose of IL-13 for 48 hours. Total RNA wasisolated, cDNA synthesis was performed, and RT-PCR analysis was done tomonitor CDH26 and GAPDH levels. The graph represents the averagefold-change compared to untreated cells for five patients.

FIG. 8B. TE-7 cells were treated with the indicated dose of IL-13 for 48hours, followed by RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, and RT-PCR for CDH26and GAPDH. The graphs represent the average of three experiments.

FIG. 8C. NCI-N87 cells were treated with the indicated dose of IL-13 for48 hours. RNA was then isolated, cDNA synthesis was performed, andRT-PCR for CDH26 and GAPDH was done. The graphs represent the average ofthree experiments.

FIG. 8D. TE-7 cells that were transduced with eitherpMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26 were fixed and stained either withantibody specific for CDH26 or an equivalent amount of control IgGantibody. Nuclei were stained with DAPI.

FIG. 8E. Surface biotinylation of TE-7 cells is depicted. TE7 cellstransduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26 were incubatedwith a membrane-impermeable reagent that reacts with and bindscovalently to cell surface proteins. Proteins were then solubilized inimmunoprecipitation buffer. Protein lysates were subjected to pulldownusing streptavidin beads. Total cell lysates (input) and proteins boundto the streptavidin beads were subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blotanalysis for the indicated proteins.

FIG. 8F. Surface biotinylation of NCI-N87 cells is depicted. NCI-N87cells transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26 were treatedas described for TE-7 cells in FIG. 8E.

Example 15 Similarities Between CDH26 and Classical Cadherin Molecules

Classical cadherin molecules are known to mediate cell-cell adhesionthrough homotypic interactions. Therefore, a study was designed todetermine whether CDH26 molecules interact in a homotypic manner usingtransient transfection and immunoprecipitation experiments.

HEK 293T cells were co-transfected with two separate expressionconstructs containing either CDH26-myc or CDH26-HA. Myc-tagged CDH26 wasobserved to co-immunoprecipitate with HA-tagged CDH26. The reciprocalimmunoprecipitation confirmed that HA-tagged CDH26 co-immunoprecipitatedwith myc-tagged CDH26 (FIG. 9A).

Classical cadherin molecules have additionally been shown to be modifiedby glycosylation, which alters the adhesive function of these molecules.Therefore, a follow-up study was designed to determine whether CDH26 wasglycosylated by performing experiments in which HEK 293T cells weretransfected with an expression construct containing HA-tagged CDH26.

CDH26 was immunoprecipitated and then treated with peptide:N-glycosidaseF (PNgase F) to remove N-linked glycosylation. Immunoprecipitated CDH26treated with PNgase F, but not heat-inactivated PNgase F, exhibited anincreased mobility compared to CDH26 from total cell lysates (FIG. 9B),indicating that the protein is modified by N-glycosylation underbaseline conditions in these cells.

Classical cadherin molecules, including E-cadherin and N-cadherin, havebeen shown to interact with catenin proteins, which bind the C-terminalcytoplasmic portion of the cadherin protein to link it to the actincytoskeleton. A study was therefore designed to determine whether CDH26interacts with beta-catenin, an essential component of the Wnt signalingpathway that is important in gastrointestinal homeostasis.

The region of other cadherin molecules known to interact withbeta-catenin exhibited similarity to the same region of CDH26 (FIG. 9C;Stappert and Kemler, Cell Adhes. Commun. 2:319-27 (1994)). HEK 293Tcells were co-transfected with expression constructs containing CDH26 orHA-tagged beta-catenin (CTNNB1). When immunoprecipitation for HA-taggedbeta-catenin was performed, CDH26 was also detected in the precipitates(FIG. 9D), indicating that ectopically expressed beta-catenin and CDH26exist in the same complex in these cells.

Since CDH26 localizes with beta-catenin in cultured cells, EG andcontrol gastric biopsies were stained with antibody to beta-catenin.Surface epithelial cells in control biopsies showed distinct staining ofthe basolateral cell membrane. HEK 293T cells were transientlytransfected with the indicated constructs. Total cell lysates were thenprepared and equal amounts of protein were subjected toimmunoprecipitation using the indicated antibodies. Inputs ( 1/10 of theamount used for IP) and immunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGEand western blot analysis with the indicated antibodies.

Beta-catenin interacts with alpha-catenin to indirectly link cadherinmolecules to the actin cytoskeleton and thus support cell adhesion.Therefore, a follow-up study was designed to determine whetheralpha-catenin can exist in the same complex as CDH26 by performingtransient transfection and immunoprecipitation experiments.

HEK 293T cells were transfected with pCDH26 and a construct expressingHA-tagged CTNNA1. CDH26 was observed to co-immunoprecipitate withalpha-catenin (FIG. 9E).

The jutxamembrane domain of the cytoplasmic portion of cadherinmolecules is bound by p120-catenin, which has been shown to function inmaintenance of cadherin stability and localization to the cell surface.Therefore, a follow-up study was designed to test whether CDH26 and p120could exist in the same protein complex. p120 and CDH26co-immunoprecipitated from lysates derived from HEK 293T cellstransiently transfected with pCDH26 and a construct that expresses p120(FIG. 9F).

FIG. 9A. HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with the indicatedconstruct(s). Total cell lysates were prepared, and immunoprecipitationwas performed using the indicated antibodies. Inputs ( 1/10 of amountused for IP) or immunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE andwestern blot analysis with anti-HA antibodies; the same blot was thenstripped and probed with anti-myc antibodies. The blot shown isrepresentative of three independent experiments. Predicted molecularweight of CDH26: 95.3 kDa.

FIG. 9B. Post-translational modification of CDH26 is shown. HEK 293Tcells were transiently transfected with the indicated construct(s).Total cell lysates were prepared, and immunoprecipitation was performedusing the indicated antibodies. Immunoprecipitates were treated witheither PNGase F (+) or heat-inactivated PNGase F (−). Inputs ( 1/10 ofamount used for IP) or treated immunoprecipitates were subjected toSDS-PAGE and western blot analysis using anti-HA antibodies. The blotshown is representative of three independent experiments.

FIG. 9C. CDH26 domain structure prediction was performed by subjectingits primary amino acid sequence to SMART analysis. The positions of thesignal peptide, cadherin domains, and transmembrane domain identified bythis analysis are indicated (top). To identify the putative beta-cateninbinding domain within CDH26, CDH1 and CDH26 primary amino acid sequenceswere aligned. The specific residues corresponding to the beta-cateninbinding domain of CDH1 were identified, and the corresponding aminoacids within CDH26 are shown. Underlining indicates identical or similaramino acids (bottom).

FIG. 9D. HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with the indicatedconstructs. Total cell lysates were then prepared and equal amounts ofprotein were subjected to immunoprecipitation using the indicatedantibodies. Inputs ( 1/10 of the amount used for IP) andimmunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysiswith the indicated antibodies.

FIG. 9E. HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with the indicatedconstructs. Total cell lysates were then prepared, and equal amounts ofprotein were subjected to immunoprecipitation using the indicatedantibodies. Inputs ( 1/10 of the amount used for IP) andimmunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysiswith the indicated antibodies.

FIG. 9F. HEK 293T cells were transiently transfected with the indicatedconstructs. Total cell lysates were then prepared and equal amounts ofprotein were subjected to immunoprecipitation using the indicatedantibodies. Inputs ( 1/10 of the amount used for IP) andimmunoprecipitates were subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysiswith the indicated antibodies.

Example 16 Effect of CDH26 on Eosinophil Transmigration

A study was designed to determine whether an increased amount of CDH26expressed on the surface of cells could impact the transmigration ofeosinophils through such cells. Peripheral blood eosinophils isolatedfrom normal donors were placed in the upper chamber of transwells thatwere coated with either HEK 293T cells transduced with a control vector(pMIRNA1-puro-control) or with a CDH26 expression vector(pMIRNA1-puro-CDH26).

HEK 293T cells transduced with the CDH26 expression construct showed ahigh degree of CDH26 protein expression, a portion of which waslocalized to the surface of the cells (FIGS. 10A-C). Transmigration ofthe eosinophils toward the indicated amount of eotaxin-1 was monitored.In control cells, eosinophils migrated toward eotaxin-1 in adose-dependent manner. This migration was enhanced for the same dose ofeotaxin-1 through cells that were overexpressing CDH26 compared tocontrol cells (FIG. 11).

Since leukocytes have been described to express cadherin proteins, afollow-up study was designed to determine whether eosinophils expressedCDH26. Western blot was performed, and revealed that peripheral bloodeosinophils showed expression of CDH26 in an SDS-soluble fraction (FIG.12).

FIG. 10A. Cells were treated with sulfo-NHS-LC-biotin to biotinylatesurface proteins. Biotinylated proteins were pulled down withstreptavidin-conjugated agarose beads, and total protein (input) andproteins that were pulled down were subjected to SDS-PAGE and westernblot analysis for CDH26 and beta-actin.

FIG. 10B. Cells were either fixed or both fixed and permeabilized,followed by staining with either anti-CDH26 or an equivalent amount ofIgG control antibody. After incubation with Alexa 647-conjugatedsecondary antibody, cells were subjected to FACS analysis to detectAlexa 647 signal.

FIG. 10C. Cells were acetone-fixed and then stained with eitheranti-CDH26 or an equivalent amount of IgG control antibody. Cells weresubsequently incubated with Alexa 594-conjugated secondary antibody. TheAlexa 594 signal was visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy(magnification=800×).

FIG. 11. The impact of CDH26 on eotaxin-1-mediated eosinophiltransmigration through a cell monolayer is shown. HEK 293T cellstransduced with either a control or CDH26-overexpression lentiviralconstruct were seeded on the top of transwells, and eosinophils wereadded to the top chamber, while media containing the indicatedconcentration of eotaxin-1 was added to the bottom chamber of thetranswells. After 1.5 hours, the number of eosinophils present in thebottom chamber was counted.

FIG. 12. CDH26 protein expression by eosinophils is shown. Peripheralblood eosinophils were isolated from normal donors. Cells weresolubilized in IP buffer containing NP-40 detergent. The NP-40 insolublefraction was then solubilized in SDS-containing Laemmli buffer. Thefractions were subjected to SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis for CDH26and beta-actin. Results from three separate donors are shown.

Example 17 Results of Elevated CDH26 Cell Surface Expression

A study was designed to determine whether an increased amount of CDH26expressed on the surface of cells could impact the cell adhesionproperties of such cells. A related study was designed to determinewhether an increased amount of CDH26 expressed on the surface of cellscould impact the IL-13-mediated production of eotaxin-3 by such cells.

Aggregation Assay

HEK 293T cells that were transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control or-CDH26 were used in an aggregation assay. Cells were grown to confluencyand then dispersed with 0.1% trypsin in the presence of 5 mM Ca²⁺, whichrenders the extracellular domain of cadherins resistant totrypsin-mediated proteolysis. Single cells (2×10⁶) were then resuspendedin buffer (0.01 M HEPES in saline) either containing or lacking 1 mMCaCl₂ and incubated rotating at 37° C. for 30 minutes. The number ofcell particles was then quantified for each sample. The results wereexpressed as aggregation index, defined as (initial particlenumber−final particle number)/initial particle number.

Eotaxin-3 ELISA

Quantification of eotaxin-3 (CCL26) protein in cell supernatants wascarried out using a sandwich ELISA method according to themanufacturer's protocol (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.). Wells ofhalf-area polystyrene plates (Costar) were coated overnight at roomtemperature with capture antibody suspended in PBS (1.0 μg/ml). Plateswere then washed 3 times with wash buffer (PBS plus 0.05% Tween-20) andincubated with blocking buffer (1% BSA, 0.5% sucrose, 0.05% NaN₃) for 1hour at room temperature. Plates were then washed 3 times with washbuffer followed by the addition of standards and supernatant samples for2 hours at room temperature. Plates were then washed 3 times with washbuffer, and detection antibody suspended in reagent diluent (1% BSA inPBS) at a concentration of 250 ng/ml was added for 2 hours at roomtemperature. Plates were washed 3 times with wash buffer followed byaddition of streptavidin-HRP (1:200 dilution in reagent diluent). Plateswere washed, a 1:1 mixture of H₂O₂ and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)substrate was added, and the reaction was stopped with 2N H₂SO₄.Absorbance was measured at 450 nm and 900 nm.

Protein Domain Prediction and Amino Acid Sequence Alignment

CDH26 primary amino acid sequence was subjected to SMART analysis toidentify its putative domain structure (Schultz, et al. Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. 95:5857-64 (1998); PNAS; Letunic, et al. NAR 40:D302-5,(published online 2012)). CDH1 (E-cadherin) and CDH26 primary amino acidsequence were aligned using the Pairwise Align Protein function followedby the Color Align Conservation function of the Sequence ManipulationSuite (Stothard, Biotechniques 28:1102-4 (2000)). The specific residuescorresponding to the beta-catenin binding domain of CDH1 were identified(Stappert and Kemler, Cell Adhes. Commun. 2:31-27 (1994)) and thecorresponding amino acids within CDH26 are shown

Results

The aggregation index of cells expressing a high amount of CDH26 wasfound to be significantly increased compared to that of control cells(FIG. 13A). TE-7 cells that were transduced with eitherpMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26 were grown to confluency and then treatedwith increasing doses of IL-13 for 72 hours. After this time, half ofthe supernatant was collected, and sodium chloride was added to theremaining supernatant to a concentration of 500 mM in order to disruptnon-covalent interactions between eotaxin-3 and molecules on the cellsurface. The eotaxin-3 concentration in both sets of supernatants wasdetermined by ELISA. TE-7 cells that were expressing high levels ofCDH26 showed increased eotaxin-3 levels in the supernatant either withor without the addition of sodium chloride compared tocontrol-transduced cells treated with the equivalent dose of IL-13 (FIG.13B).

FIG. 13A. HEK 293T cells were transduced with eitherpMIRNA1-puro-control or -CDH26. Cells were grown to confluency and thendispersed with 0.1% trypsin in the presence of 5 mM CaCl₂. Single cells(2×10⁶) were resuspended in buffer either containing or lacking 1 mMCaCl₂ and then rotated for 30 minutes at 37° C. The number of cellaggregates was then quantified, and the aggregation index was calculated

FIG. 13B. TE-7 cells were transduced with either pMIRNA1-puro-control or-CDH26. Cells (7.5×10⁵ per well) were plated in 24-well plates for 3days. Cells were then treated with the indicated dose of IL-13 for 72hours. Half of the supernatant per well was then collected. Sodiumchloride was then added to a final concentration of 500 mM per well, andthe remaining supernatant was immediately removed. Eotaxin-3 levels insupernatants without (top) or with (bottom) sodium chloride additionwere then quantified by ELISA.

Example 18 Role of CDH26 3′ Untranslated Region in Regulation of CDH26Protein Levels

In primary esophageal epithelial cells, TE-7 cells, and NCI-N87 cells,CDH26 transcript levels are increased following IL-13 stimulation, but acorresponding increase in protein production is not observed. Todetermine whether the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the CDH26transcript regulates protein levels, the CDH26 3′ UTR was analyzed toidentify consensus sequences that had previously been shown to influencemRNA stability or protein translation.

Cell Transfection

TE-7 cells were plated at a density of 75,000 cells per well in 24-wellplates. The next day, cells were transfected with 500 ng of apGL3P-based expression construct encoding Firefly luciferase and 62.5 ngof pHRL-TK, encoding Renilla luciferase under the control of aconstitutive promoter (Promega) using Trans-IT reagent (Minis Bio,Madison, Wis.), according to the manufacturer's instructions. After 48hours, cells were harvested with 1× passive lysis buffer (Promega), andthe Firefly and Renilla luciferase activities were measured using DualLuciferase Reporter Assay reagents (Promega) and a GloMax luminometer(Promega).

Plasmid Construction

For luciferase assays, pGL3P was obtained from Promega. The DNA fragmentlocated between the XbaI and BamHI sites was removed by restrictiondigest, and the remaining plasmid backbone was then treated with Klenowpolymerase and ligated to form pGL3P-Xba/Bam. pGL3P-CDH26 wasconstructed by inserting a PCR product that included the CDH26 3′ UTRsequence into the SalI site of pGL3P-Xba/Bam. pGL3P-GAIT1del,pGL3P-GAIT2del, and pGL3P-GAIT3del were each constructed by deleting thespecific nucleotides from pGL3P-CDH26 that correspond to the relevantGAIT element as denoted in FIG. 13A using a PCR-mediated method.pGL3P-GAIT123del was constructed by deleting the specific nucleotidesfrom pGL3P-CDH26 that correspond to all three GAIT elements as denotedin FIG. 13A using a PCR-mediated method.

Results

Three gamma-interferon-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT)consensus sequences were identified (FIG. 14A). Luciferase assays wereperformed to assess the contribution of these elements to regulation ofprotein levels by the CDH26 3′ UTR. TE-7 cells transfected with pGL3P,which contains Firefly luciferase cDNA downstream of the SV40 promoterand upstream of SV40 late poly(A) signal, showed a high level ofluciferase activity compared to the same construct that lacked the SV40late poly(A) signal (pGL3P-Xba/Bam).

Insertion of the CDH26 3′ UTR sequence into pGL3P-Xba/Bam (pGL3P-CDH26)showed decreased luciferase activity compared to the construct lackingany 3′ UTR sequence. However, deletion of any single GAIT consensussequence within pGL3P-CDH26 resulted in increased luciferase activity(FIG. 14B); therefore, these sequences have activity that inhibitsprotein levels.

FIG. 14A. The CDH26 3′ UTR sequence was subjected to analysis usingRegRNA (Huang, et al., NAR 34:W429-W434 (2006)), and threegamma-interferon-activated inhibitor of translation (GAIT) consensussequences were identified. These sequences were arbitrarily numbered 1,2, and 3 and called GAIT1, GAIT2, and GAIT3, respectively, based ontheir order from 5′ to 3′ within the 3′ UTR. GAIT1 and GAIT2 are shownin bold text, and GAIT3 is underlined.

FIG. 14B. TE-7 cells were transiently transfected with the indicatedFirefly luciferase expression construct. Cells were co-transfected withequivalent amounts of pHRL-TK plasmid as a control. After 48 hours, celllysates were harvested, and both Firefly and Renilla luciferaseactivities were monitored. The ratio of Firefly to Renilla luciferasefor each sample is graphed.

Example 19 Diagnosis of a Patient for Eosinophilic Gastritis

As described herein, gastric tissue of patients with EG was found toexhibit a conserved pattern of gene expression. A conserved set of 28genes were found to be upregulated, and 76 genes were found to bedownregulated in gastric tissue of patients with active EG compared tocontrol patients, representing an EG transcriptome that can be used forproviding a diagnosis of EG. Such a diagnosis can be used to distinguishEG from a normal condition in a patient.

The diagnostic method is carried out on a patient to determine if thepatient has EG. RNA extraction is performed on a patient gastric biopsytissue sample. After RNA quantity/quality measurement by nanodrop, 1000ng of the RNA sample is measured for the reverse transcription (RT)reaction. cDNA corresponding to 500 ng RNA or mRNA directly is analyzedfor expression of at least one of the genes, or a subset of the genes orall of the genes, as listed in Tables 9 and 10, as a single or multiplexformat using at least one of a variety of gene quantificationtechniques, such as, for example, Taqman (Life Technologies, Carlsbad,Calif.), Light-Cycler (Roche Applied Science, Penzberg, Germany), ABIfluidic card (Life Technologies), NanoString® (NanoString Technologies,Seattle, Wash.), and the like. The data is analyzed to determineexpression levels of the markers as disclosed herein to establish an EGdiagnosis, which serves as the basis for the final diagnostic report.

Example 20 Diagnosis of a Patient for EG (as Distinguished from OtherEosinophilic or Inflammatory GI Disorders)

In addition to EG and EoE, there are a number of additional eosinophilicgastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs), including eosinophilic duodenitis(ED), eosinophilic jejunitis (EJ), eosinophilic ileitis (EI), andeosinophilic colitis (EC), and the like (Rothenberg, M. J. Allergy Clin.Immunol. 113:11-28 (2004); Talley, N. et al. Gut 31:54-8 (1990)). Thereare also several other inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders, such asceliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, H. pylori gastritis,non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastritis, and thelike. As described herein, the molecular signature of normal and EGpatients was determined, and the resulting eosinophilic gastritismolecular diagnostic panel forms a solid and consistent basis fordifferential diagnosis.

The diagnostic method is carried out on a patient to determine if thepatient has EG instead of other esophageal disorders, such as EoE. RNAextraction is performed on a patient gastric biopsy tissue sample. AfterRNA quantity/quality measurement by nanodrop, 1000 ng of the RNA sampleis measured for the reverse transcription (RT) reaction. cDNAcorresponding to 500 ng RNA or mRNA directly is analyzed for expressionof at least one of the genes, or a subset of the genes or all of thegenes, as listed in Tables 9 and 10, as a single or multiplex formatusing at least one of a variety of gene quantification techniques, suchas, for example, Taqman, Light-Cycler, ABI fluidic card, NanoString, andthe like. The data is analyzed to determine expression levels of themarkers as disclosed herein to establish an EG diagnosis, which servesas the basis for the final diagnostic report, thereby allowing EG to bedifferentiated from other EGIDs and inflammatory GI disorders in thepatient.

Example 21 Evaluation of an EG Patient to Provide a Prognosis andGuidance on Selection and Modification of EG Medication and TreatmentProtocols

The EG diagnostic panel as described herein can be used as a personalmedicine prediction device. Based on the molecular profile for each EGpatient, personalized medicine can be performed to enhance treatmentefficiency. The diagnostic panel can be used as an accurate, rapid,informative, and low-cost diagnosis based on the EG transcriptome andcan be used alone or in conjunction with a histological diagnosis.

A molecular understanding of the pathogenesis of EG can also improve themechanistic study of EG that can ultimately be used to provide prognosisand/or personalized treatments based on the unique expression of eachpatient. Such personalized treatments include guidance for determiningappropriate medication dosages or treatment protocols to use in a givenpatient. Personalized treatment also allows for the modification ofmedication dosage or treatment protocols as necessary.

The diagnostic method is carried out on a patient to determine if thepatient has eosinophilic gastritis (EG). RNA extraction is performed ona patient gastric biopsy tissue sample. After RNA quantity/qualitymeasurement by nanodrop, 1000 ng of the RNA sample is measured for thereverse transcription (RT) reaction. cDNA corresponding to 500 ng RNA ormRNA directly is analyzed for expression of at least one of the genes,or a subset of the genes or all of the genes, as listed in Tables 9 and10, as a single or multiplex format using at least one of a variety ofgene quantification techniques, such as, for example, Taqman,Light-Cycler, ABI fluidic card, NanoString, and the like. The data isanalyzed to determine expression levels of the markers as disclosedherein to establish an EG diagnosis, which serves as the basis for thefinal diagnostic report. Based on the final diagnostic report, prognosisis provided, and/or a specific therapy is developed, and/or an ongoingtherapy is modified, based upon the specific EG transcription profilegenerated for the patient.

Example 22 Evaluation of an Archived Sample from a Patient

As described herein, the eosinophilic gastritis diagnostic panel has thecapacity to differentiate the EG and NL transcriptome fromformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. While FFPE samples arenormally associated with relatively degraded RNA due to oxidationdegradation during archiving (April, et al. PloS One 4:e8162 (2009)),the data presented herein indicate that the EG diagnostic panel ispractically tolerant to the poor RNA integrity of FFPE samples. With RNAextraction from FFPE samples becoming a more readily availabletechnique, molecular diagnosis from FFPE biopsy samples will allow forthe retrospective study of the large amount of archived FFPE samples invarious institution. FFPE samples are also normally associated withlonger follow-up and more clinical outcomes, rendering them suitable fora long-term clinical study focusing on prognosis.

The FFPE capacity of the eosinophilic gastritis molecular diagnosticpanel as disclosed herein can make long term retrospective studypossible without recruiting new samples. In addition, since FFPEsections can be sent at ambient temperature and are relatively lesssensitive to decay, multi-centered studies can be performed in a moreconvenient manner in terms of logistics. The usage of already obtainedclinical biopsy specimens combined with the merits of moleculardiagnosis can reduce the number of biopsies procured during endoscopy.

Example 23 Determination of EDP Genes Targeted by Therapeutics

The eosinophilic gastritis diagnostic panel, as described herein, can beused to determine if a particular drug is engaging a specific target onthe eosinophilic gastritis diagnostic panel. For example, theeosinophilic gastritis diagnostic panel can be used to determine if antherapy specific for a molecule involved in EG disease pathogenesis up-or down-regulates the related marker or gene within the EDP.

The diagnostic method is carried out on a patient to determine the genesof the eosinophilic gastritis diagnostic panel with which a particulartherapeutic is interacting. RNA extraction is performed on an esophagealbiopsy tissue sample from a patient to whom a therapeutic has beenadministered. After RNA quantity/quality measurement by nanodrop, 1000ng of the RNA sample is measured for the reverse transcription (RT)reaction. cDNA corresponding to 500 ng RNA or mRNA directly is analyzedfor expression of at least one of the genes, or a subset of the genes orall of the genes, as listed in Tables 9 and 10, as a single or multiplexformat using at least one of a variety of gene quantificationtechniques, such as, for example, Taqman, Light-Cycler, ABI fluidiccard, NanoString, and the like. The data is analyzed to determineexpression levels of the markers as disclosed herein to establish an EGdiagnosis, which serves as the basis for the final diagnostic report.The result set is evaluated to identify from the result set the genesthat are up- or down-regulated in response to the therapeutic.

Example 24 Determination of a Patient's Allergic Status

As described herein, CDH26 represents a marker or gene that isassociated with EG, EoE, and allergic inflammation in general.Accordingly, CDH26 can be used as a marker to determine the allergicstatus of a patient. In such a determination of a patient's allergicstatus, CDH26 can be used alone or in combination with other genes foundto be associated with EG or EoE.

The diagnostic method is carried out on a patient to determine if thepatient has an allergic inflammatory condition. RNA extraction isperformed on an esophageal biopsy tissue sample from a patient to whom atherapeutic has been administered. After RNA quantity/qualitymeasurement by nanodrop, 1000 ng of the RNA sample is measured for thereverse transcription (RT) reaction. cDNA corresponding to 500 ng RNA ormRNA directly is analyzed for expression of CDH26 using at least one ofa variety of gene quantification techniques, such as, for example,Taqman, Light-Cycler, ABI fluidic card, NanoString, and the like. Thedata is analyzed to determine the patient's expression level of CDH26 toestablish an allergic inflammatory condition diagnosis, which serves asthe basis for the final diagnostic report.

Example 25 Treatment of a Patient with an Allergic InflammatoryCondition

As described herein, CDH26 was found to be highly over-expressed inallergic inflammatory conditions. Accordingly, anti-CDH26-basedtherapeutics that block or inhibit CDH26 activity can be used to treatpatients with EG, EoE, or other allergic inflammatory conditions.

A subject is diagnosed as having an allergic inflammatory condition.Such a diagnosis can be made, for example, according to the processdescribed in Example 24. An anti-CDH26-based therapeutic, such as aCDH26-Fc fusion protein, a CDH26 anti-sense polynucleotide, aCDH26-directed miRNA, a CDH26-directed shRNA, a CDH26-directed humanizedantibody, a CDH-related peptide, a catenin-based inhibitor, a compoundor composition that targets a binding site and/or protein of at leastone GAIT consensus sequence within a CDH26 3′ UTR, or the like, isadministered to the subject. Following administration, CDH26 activity inthe subject is suppressed, resulting in reduced allergic inflammation,thereby alleviating symptoms associated with the allergic inflammatorycondition.

The various methods and techniques described above provide a number ofways to carry out the application. Of course, it is to be understoodthat not necessarily all objectives or advantages described can beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein.Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that themethods can be performed in a manner that achieves or optimizes oneadvantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarilyachieving other objectives or advantages as taught or suggested herein.A variety of alternatives are mentioned herein. It is to be understoodthat some preferred embodiments specifically include one, another, orseveral features, while others specifically exclude one, another, orseveral features, while still others mitigate a particular feature byinclusion of one, another, or several advantageous features.

Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the applicability ofvarious features from different embodiments. Similarly, the variouselements, features and steps discussed above, as well as other knownequivalents for each such element, feature or step, can be employed invarious combinations by one of ordinary skill in this art to performmethods in accordance with the principles described herein. Among thevarious elements, features, and steps some will be specifically includedand others specifically excluded in diverse embodiments.

Although the application has been disclosed in the context of certainembodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that the embodiments of the application extend beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses and modifications and equivalents thereof.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients,properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth,used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.”Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth inthe written description and attached claims are approximations that canvary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by aparticular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parametersshould be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstandingthat the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scopeof some embodiments of the application are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely aspracticable.

In some embodiments, the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similarreferences used in the context of describing a particular embodiment ofthe application (especially in the context of certain of the followingclaims) can be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Therecitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as ashorthand method of referring individually to each separate valuefalling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, eachindividual value is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. All methods described herein can beperformed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and allexamples, or exemplary language (for example, “such as”) provided withrespect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to betterilluminate the application and does not pose a limitation on the scopeof the application otherwise claimed. No language in the specificationshould be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential tothe practice of the application.

Preferred embodiments of this application are described herein,including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out theapplication. Variations on those preferred embodiments will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading theforegoing description. It is contemplated that skilled artisans canemploy such variations as appropriate, and the application can bepracticed otherwise than specifically described herein. Accordingly,many embodiments of this application include all modifications andequivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended heretoas permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of theabove-described elements in all possible variations thereof isencompassed by the application unless otherwise indicated herein orotherwise clearly contradicted by context.

All patents, patent applications, publications of patent applications,and other material, such as articles, books, specifications,publications, documents, things, and/or the like, referenced herein arehereby incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for allpurposes, excepting any prosecution file history associated with same,any of same that is inconsistent with or in conflict with the presentdocument, or any of same that may have a limiting affect as to thebroadest scope of the claims now or later associated with the presentdocument. By way of example, should there be any inconsistency orconflict between the description, definition, and/or the use of a termassociated with any of the incorporated material and that associatedwith the present document, the description, definition, and/or the useof the term in the present document shall prevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that can be employedcan be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication can be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of treating an allergic inflammatorycondition in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to thesubject an amount of an anti-cadherin-like 26 (CDH26)-based therapeuticeffective to suppress CDH26, thereby treating the allergic inflammatorycondition in the subject.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdetermining the protein expression level of CDH26 in a biological samplefrom the subject.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising obtainingthe biological sample from the subject.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the allergic inflammatory condition is eosinophilic gastritis(EG).
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-CDH26-based therapeuticis a compound or composition that suppresses CDH26 activity.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the anti-CDH26-based therapeutic is aCDH26-Fc fusion protein.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the methodfurther comprises determining the protein expression level or mRNAexpression level for at least one protein marker or gene selected fromTable 9 and/or Table
 10. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the methodcomprises determining the protein expression level or mRNA expressionlevel of Charcot-Leyden crystal protein.
 9. The method of claim 7,wherein the method comprises determining the protein expression level ormRNA expression level of eotaxin-3.
 10. A method of treatingeosinophilic gastritis (EG) in a subject in need thereof, comprisingadministering to the subject an amount of an anti-cadherin-like 26(CDH26)-based therapeutic effective to suppress CDH26, thereby treatingthe EG in the subject.